Exploration Motivations, Tools, and Key Historical Figures in Age of Discovery

God, Gold, and Glory

The three main motivations for exploration: spread Christianity, gain wealth, and achieve fame.

God

Desire to spread Christianity and convert nonbelievers.

Gold

Desire for wealth from trade, spices, and precious metals.

Glory

Desire for fame and national prestige through exploration.

Renaissance influence on exploration

Sparked curiosity and innovation; encouraged learning, science, and new navigation tools.

Risks of exploration

Sea monsters, shipwrecks, sea sickness, famine, pirates, and enemies.

Rewards of exploration

Gold, new land, allies, treasure, and trade routes.

Compass

Tool used to determine direction.

Astrolabe

Tool used to measure the sun or stars to find position and direction.

Maps

Created by cartographers; showed routes, coastlines, and territories.

Caravel

Fast, maneuverable ship with triangular sails that could sail against the wind.

Ship innovations

Multiple masts, rudders, and improved sails allowed longer, safer voyages.

Prince Henry the Navigator

Portuguese prince who started a navigation school and sponsored voyages along Africa.

Goa

Portuguese capital of their Indian trade empire.

Malacca

Captured by Portugal; gave control of the Spice Islands.

Christopher Columbus

Spanish explorer who discovered the Americas in 1492 while seeking a route to Asia.

Spain during the Age of Exploration

Expanded overseas empire after Columbus; competed with Portugal for land and resources.

Line of Demarcation

1494 boundary set by the Pope dividing lands between Spain and Portugal; Spain gained most of the Americas.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Agreement between Spain and Portugal to honor the Line of Demarcation.

Dutch East India Company

Trading company established by the Netherlands to control Asian trade and make profits.

Amsterdam

Became Europe's financial and commercial center due to Dutch trade wealth.

Zheng He

Chinese explorer of the Ming Dynasty who led voyages to show Chinese power.

Zheng He's destinations

Traveled to Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa.

Zheng He's goal

Impress the world with Ming China's power and expand the tribute system.

Decline of the Ming Dynasty

Caused by corruption, weak rulers, bad harvests, economic issues, and rebellion.

Qing Dynasty

Manchu-led dynasty that ruled after the Ming; expanded China and maintained isolation.

Manchu invasion

Northern people who conquered China and founded the Qing Dynasty in 1644.

Kangxi

Qing emperor (1661-1721) who reduced expenses, promoted learning, and kept ties with Jesuits.

Qian-long

Kangxi's grandson; led China to its largest size and prosperity but continued isolation.

Kowtow ritual

Deep bow to show respect to Chinese emperor; refusal by British caused trade rejection.

Korea under Qing rule

Modeled government after China, stayed isolated, and developed strong nationalism.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Unified Japan in 1600; established Tokugawa Shogunate and moved capital to Tokyo.

Tokugawa Shogunate

Japanese government system that brought peace, increased trade, and enforced loyalty.

Rule of law over rule of the sword

Shift under Tokugawa; government control replaced samurai dominance.

Japan and Christianity

Banned in 1612; persecution of Christians began after fear of foreign influence.

Japan and foreign trade

Adopted 'closed country policy' in 1639; isolated for 200 years.

Closed country policy

Tokugawa decree closing Japan to most foreign trade and contact.

Prince Henry the Navigator (Portugal, 1394-1460)

Opened navigation school; sponsored African coast expeditions.

Zheng He (China, early 1400s)

Led 7 voyages to show power and expand trade.

Bartolomeu Dias (Portugal, 1488)

First to sail around southern tip of Africa; proved sea route to Asia possible.

Vasco da Gama (Portugal, 1497-1499)

First to reach India by sea; established Portugal's spice trade.

Christopher Columbus (Spain, 1492-1504)

Connected Europe with the Americas; began colonization.

Ferdinand Magellan (Spain, 1519-1522)

First circumnavigation of the globe; proved the Earth was round.

Hernando Cortés (Spain, 1519)

Conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico.

Francisco Pizarro (Spain, 1532)

Conquered the Incan Empire in Peru.

Netherlands (1619)

Took control of Malacca and the Spice Islands; became a trading empire.

France (1600s)

Explored and colonized Canada and the Mississippi River; fur trade.

Great Britain (1600s)

Established colonies in North America; competed globally.

Spain (1400s-1600s)

Built a vast global empire; gained wealth from American colonies and spread Christianity.

Mercantilism

Economic theory that wealth = power; nations sought to export more than they imported.

Capitalism

Economic system where private individuals own businesses for profit.

Joint-Stock Company

Investors share profits/losses of exploration voyages.

Triangular Trade

Trade route linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas exchanging goods, slaves, and raw materials.

Middle Passage

Horrific route enslaved Africans took across the Atlantic to the Americas.

Favorable Balance of Trade

Exporting more than importing to increase national wealth.

Columbian Exchange

Global transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds.

Old World goods (from Americas)

Corn, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, cocoa, tobacco, turkeys.

New World goods (to Americas)

Horses, cattle, pigs, wheat, sugar, coffee, smallpox, measles.

1400-1600

Period of the Age of Exploration.

1394-1460

Life of Prince Henry the Navigator.

1488

Bartolomeu Dias sails around Africa's southern tip.

1492

Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas.

1494

Treaty of Tordesillas divides the New World.

1497-1499

Vasco da Gama reaches India by sea.

1519-1522

Magellan's crew completes the first circumnavigation.

1532

Francisco Pizarro conquers the Incan Empire.

1590s

Japan invades Korea; leads to isolationist sentiment.

1600

Tokugawa Ieyasu unifies Japan.

1612

Japan bans Christianity.

1619

Dutch capture Malacca and Spice Islands.

1639

Japan enforces closed country policy.

1644

Qing Dynasty begins in China.

1661-1721

Reign of Emperor Kangxi in China.

1867

End of Tokugawa Shogunate rule in Japan.