John Pearson- History until 1865 notes 2

The medieval period set the stage for the Age of Exploration, marked by significant maritime endeavors from Europe and Asia.

Eric the Red: Led a group of Vikings westward in 983.
Leif Erikson: Son of Eric, followed his father's lead.
Settlements Established:
- Locations include modern-day Iceland, Greenland, and parts of Canada.
- These settlements were ultimately short-lived due to:
- Hostile relations with Native American populations.
- A cooling climate affecting their agricultural ability.
- Political strife within their homelands in Scandinavia.
Impact on European Knowledge: Limited influence on European awareness of the Americas.

Zheng He: A prominent figure who lead maritime expeditions from 1405 to 1433.
- Represented the wealth and power of Ming China.
- Aimed to showcase Chinese dominance rather than seeking riches or new lands.
Scale of Voyages:
- Ships were approximately 400 feet long, compared to European ships of around 75 feet.

One Hundred Years War (1337-1453):
- Extended conflict that drained resources and manpower in both France and Britain.
Black Death:
- Epidemic of bubonic plague that spread throughout Europe between 1347 and 1351.
- Continued to emerge sporadically over the following century.
- Resulted in the deaths of about one-third of Europe's population.

Definition of Renaissance:
- Term meaning "Rebirth", characterized by the rediscovery of ancient Greek and Roman knowledge.
- Originated in Italian city-states and spread towards the northwest regions of Europe.

Unification of Monarchies:
- French and English monarchies worked to centralize their kingdoms, thereby enhancing administrative powers.
- Strengthened militarily and fostered relations with explorers and merchants.

The completion of the Reconquista led to increased centralization and affirmation of Catholicism in Spain.

Martin Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation in 1517, igniting religious conflicts between Protestant and Catholic nations.

Wealthy Europeans cultivated a strong demand for spices and silks from Asia.
High prices on goods were attributed to their transportation via the overland Silk Road.

Diversity: Significant variations in language, political structures, and religious practices across the continent, including the presence of Islam.
Trade Dominance: Major kingdoms controlled trade routes; wealth was cultivated from gold, spices, and the slave trade.

Abundant Resources: The continent was rich in gold, spices, and human resources (slaves).
Trade Networks: Established systems across the Sahara Desert facilitated the exchange of goods and the spread of Islam throughout Africa.
Shifting Trade Focus: As European interest in Africa grew, the focus of trade began to shift towards the Atlantic Ocean.

Lack of a single African identity; slave capture involved conflicts or kidnappings from rival groups.
Comparison with American chattel slavery: African slavery was generally less restrictive than its American counterpart.

Portugal's Role: Step into the European Age of Exploration was largely spearheaded by Prince Henry the Navigator.
Motivations:
- Prince Henry, the third son of the Portuguese king, financially supported voyages increasing exploration towards Africa.
- Traditional narrative suggests a desire to cut out Middle Eastern traders from the Silk Road; however, new evidence indicates a motivation for acquiring slaves to work on sugar plantations in the Mediterranean and Atlantic islands.

Profile: An Italian geographer shaped by the spirit of the Renaissance who undertook African voyages.
Biography:
- Proposed to sail west across the Atlantic to reach Chinese and Indian trade ports, erroneously estimating the Earth’s circumference at 18,000 miles (the actual figure is about 24,000 miles).
- Presented his plan to the Portuguese monarchy in 1484, but was rejected due to underestimation of distances.
- In 1485, he approached Spain, presenting alluring tales of wealth and potential conversions.
- Experienced delays until 1492 for launching his expedition.

Launch of Voyages:
- Departed in August 1492 with three ships, ultimately landing in present-day Bahamas, mistakenly believing he had arrived in India.
Myth vs. Reality: Columbus's voyages are often celebrated, but there exists a stark contrast between the believed achievements and the historical realities.

Columbus's Results:
- Undertook four expeditions to the Americas, maintaining the belief that he had discovered a new route to Asia.
- Upon death, Columbus was left a wealthy man, largely due to the increased interest in exploration following the invention of the printing press and a surge in literacy during the Renaissance.

Amerigo Vespucci: Conducted voyages between 1497 and 1502, confirming Columbus had reached previously unknown continents in the Old World.
- Contemporaneous discovery mapping contributed to reshaping the European worldview concerning new territories.
Voyage Mapping: An overview of who was exploring where and in what timeframe, reflecting the rapidly changing geopolitics and possessive claims of new lands during this period.