Technology and Exploration

Introduction

• European nations were able to economically, politically, and militarily dominate the world during the 1600’s and 1700’s due to improvements in the following:
  • Mapmaking
  • Improved navigational tools

Navigation Tools

• Astrolabe: allowed sailors to use the position of the sun and stars to determine latitude; invented by the Greeks, but advanced by the Arabs.
• Compass: uses a magnetized needle to determine direction
• Caravel: a smaller, lighter boat that was designed to sail in shallow waters close to shore
  • Flat hull (bottom of the boat) allowed for more cargo space; triangular sails allowed the ship to sail into the wind (tacking).
  • Made voyages much faster.
• Rudder: a flat, moveable piece at the back of the ship that made it easier to steer.  
  • This helped boats get away from pirates and other threats faster.

Gunpowder

• Gunpowder was created in 900 A.D. by the Chinese.
• The Europeans learned about it from the Arabs during the Crusades in the 1200s.  
• European scientists developed new rifles and cannons.
• This allowed Europeans to easily dominate the land and people in the newly claimed lands because the natives did not have guns.