The Age of Conquest and Colonization

Motives for European Exploration

• Search for Trade Routes: European nations sought new routes to the Far East (Asia) after the fall of Constantinople to the Turks disrupted land access via the Silk Road.

• Inspiration: The travels of Italian merchant Marco Polo motivated explorers to find alternative paths to Asia.

• The Three Gs: Exploration was driven by "God, Gold and Glory"—the desire to spread Christianity, acquire wealth/treasure, and expand national empires.

Technological Maritime Advancements

• Caravel Ship: A highly maneuverable vessel featuring a clinker-built hull for strength, a combination of square and lateen sails for wind adaptability, and rudders for steering.

• Navigation Tools:     * Compass: Used to determine sailing direction.     * Astrolabes and Quadrants: Used to calculate latitude relative to the equator.     * Log and Line: A device used to measure the ship's speed by counting knots over a specific time.

• Portolan Charts: Increasingly detailed maps used to navigate coastlines.

Major Portuguese and Spanish Expeditions

• Prince Henry the Navigator: Established a navigation school in Portugal and sponsored voyages along the West African coast ($1418$-$1460$).

• Bartholomew Diaz: Successfully rounded the Cape of Good Hope in $1489$.

• Vasco da Gama: Found a direct sea route to India in $1498$, later conquering Calicut.

• Christopher Columbus: Sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, he set sail in August $1492$ with $89$ men and three ships (Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria). He landed in the Bahamas, believing it was India, and established settlements in the Americas.

• **Pedro 
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   

Motives for European Exploration - Search for Trade Routes: European nations sought new routes to the Far East (Asia) after the fall of Constantinople to the Turks disrupted land access via the Silk Road. - Inspiration: The travels of Italian merchant Marco Polo motivated explorers to find alternative paths to Asia. - The Three Gs: Exploration was driven by "God, Gold and Glory"—the desire to spread Christianity, acquire wealth/treasure, and expand national empires.

Technological Maritime Advancements - Caravel Ship: A highly maneuverable vessel featuring a clinker-built hull for strength, a combination of square and lateen sails for wind adaptability, and rudders for steering. - Navigation Tools:

• Compass: Used to determine sailing direction.

• Astrolabes and Quadrants: Used to calculate latitude relative to the equator.

• Log and Line: A device used to measure the ship's speed by counting knots over a specific time. - Portolan Charts: Increasingly detailed maps used to navigate coastlines.

Major Portuguese and Spanish Expeditions - Prince Henry the Navigator: Established a navigation school in Portugal and sponsored voyages along the West African coast ($1418$-$1460$). - Bartholomew Diaz: Successfully rounded the Cape of Good Hope in $1489$. - Vasco da Gama: Found a direct sea route to India in $1498$, later conquering Calicut. - Christopher Columbus: Sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, he set sail in August $1492$ with $89$ men and three ships (Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria). He landed in the Bahamas, believing it was India, and established settlements in the Americas.