Europe 1400s and 1500s

Growth of Population: Increased demand for resources and land, contributing to exploration and colonization efforts.
Religious Strife: Conflicts, particularly following the Protestant Reformation, influenced territorial ambitions and alliances.
Mercantilism: Economic theory prevailing in this period which emphasized the importance of accumulating wealth through trade and colonization. Countries sought to maximize exports and minimize imports.
Stronger Monarchs/Centralized States: The rise of centralized power facilitated organized exploration and conquests. Monarchs had the resources to finance voyages and colonies.
Trade Routes to Asia: The quest for new trade routes to Asia for spices, silks, and other valuable goods served as a major motivation for exploration.

Prince Henry the Navigator: A key figure in early Portuguese exploration.
- Promoted the development of navigation, map-making, and ship design.
- Navigation Techniques:
- Quadrant: Emphasized navigation based on celestial objects rather than solely on map and compass.
- Ptolemaic Principles: Adopted three key principles from Ptolemy:
  - Earth is round.
  - Earth can be measured by degrees.
  - Stars can be used for navigation.
By 1460, at the time of Henry’s death, Portuguese exploration established multiple ports along the West Coast of Africa.
Vasco Da Gama's Journey (1497): Successfully navigated around Africa to reach India, marking the beginning of sea-based colonialism in Asia.

Marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand: United the houses of Aragon and Castille in 1469, strengthening Spain's position for exploration.
Christopher Columbus:
- Proposed the idea of circumnavigation to find a westward route to Asia, initially declined by Portugal.
- 1492: Secured backing from Isabella for his expedition.
- Sailed with 3 ships and 90 men; landing in the Bahamas after 70 days.
- Proceeded to explore Hispaniola (modern-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and Cuba.
- Returned to Spain with tales of potential wealth.
Hernán Cortés (1519): Conquered the Aztecs in present-day Mexico, furthering Spain's colonial ambitions in the New World.

Varied impressions of indigenous populations:
- Some European explorers appreciated the communal nature of native societies, emphasizing values like caring and sharing.
- Others viewed them as “heathens” or devil worshippers.
Pope Paul III's Decree: Affirmed that Native peoples were humans and “descendants of Noah”, thus possessing souls deserving of Christian salvation.

Pope Alexander VI: Sought to prevent conflict between Spain and Portugal over newly discovered lands.
- Proposed a division of the world to avoid disputes over territory.
- Initial proposal in 1493 was finalized with the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494.
- It was seen as a mistake due to its arbitrary nature and the lack of consultation with other nations.

Divided newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal along a meridian.
The line was located approximately at 46° 37' W.
Map representations show divisions including coastal regions like Brazil and the Cape Verde islands.

The Netherlands emerged as a dominant naval power following 1588, establishing a vast global empire through private companies.
- Joint Stock Companies:
- Dutch East India Company: Focused on trade in Indonesia.
- Dutch West Indian Company: Focused on the Caribbean, including New Netherlands.
England's Engagement:
- Southern Sector: Primarily motivated by economic gains through the Virginia Company.
- Northern Sector: Driven by religious motivations among settlers in New England.