Print Exploration, Conquest, and Discovery

Early Explorers

• Lief Erickson and Marco Polo traveled to North America and China respectively.

• John of Monte Corvino served as a missionary to Persia, India, and China.

• Niccolo de Conti, a Venetian merchant, visited India, Ceylon, Burma, and Indonesia.

Definition of Capitalism

• Economic system owned by private individuals or corporations for profit.

• Capitalism declined in the Middle Ages due to the manorial and guild systems.

Growth of Trade and Revival of Capitalism

• Trade increased in Western Europe during the Middle Ages.

• Crusades contributed to the revival of trade by introducing Europeans to goods from the East.

• Italian cities initially benefited from the trade revival.

Major Trading Centers

• Venetians dominated the Mediterranean trade until the 16th century.

• Hanseatic League in northern Europe dealt with raw materials and luxury goods.

• Other trading centers included Milan, Cologne, Nuremberg, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Bruges.

Banking and Usury Laws

• Banks emerged to meet the demand for capital.

• Medici family in Italy and Fugger family in Northern Germany were prominent bankers.

European Exploration

• Desire to bypass Venetians and Muslims in the Near East.

• Missionary zeal and improvements in ship design fueled exploration.

• Evolution of ship types like Galley, Galeas, Galleon, Caravel, and Spanish Galleon.

Portuguese Voyages of Exploration

• Prince Henry the Navigator led expeditions to Africa.

• Portuguese aimed to tap into the gold trade and find a direct source of gold.

• Explored the coast of Africa, established forts, and engaged in the slave trade.

Prince Henry's Achievements

• Established an academy for mapmakers, navigators, and sailors.

• Discovered Madeira, Azores, and Cape Verde Islands.

• Improved navigation instruments like the astrolabe and compass.

Commercial Interests

• Portuguese sought gold and spices in Africa and India.

• Traded in ivory, ebony, exotic animals, and engaged in the slave trade.

Impact of Exploration

• Shift from manorial to capitalist economy.

• Spread of trade, knowledge, and cultural exchange between Europe and the East.

Page 10

• Explorers and their Voyages

  • Bartholomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1487

  • Vasco de Gama anchored off the Malabar coast in 1498

  • Pedro Cabral reached Brazil in 1500

• Significance of Spices

  • Spices were important for flavoring bland European diets

  • Used in medicines, perfumes, and religious ceremonies

  • Demand for various spices like pepper, cloves, cinnamon, etc.

Page 11

• Portuguese Expansion

  • Alfonso de Albuquerque's actions in India

  • Portuguese dominance in trade with the East Indies

  • Establishment of Macao in China

  • Portuguese breaking Muslim and Venetian trade monopolies

Page 12

• Portuguese Challenges and Failures

  • Failure to capture Aden

  • Economic decline in Italy, southern German cities, and the Hanseatic League

  • Shift of power from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic route

Page 13

• Spanish Exploration

  • Spanish exploration towards the West for the spice trade

  • Christopher Columbus's voyages and discoveries

  • Treaty of Tordesillas and Treaty of Zaragoza

Page 14

• European Exploration and Conquests

  • Amerigo Vespucci's voyages and the naming of America

  • Conquests of Aztecs and Incas by Cortez and Pizzaro

  • Mining activities and economic activities in the New World

Page 15

• Economic Activities and Challenges

  • Use of Indians as slaves in mining

  • Impact of diseases on the indigenous population

  • Mining activities in Peru and North America

  • Advances in metallurgy and mining techniques

Page 16

• Bullion and Mining in Europe

  • Shift from gold to silver in European bullion

  • European mining regions and their production

  • Inflation in Spain due to the influx of silver

Page 17

• Early English and French Exploration

  • John Cabot's Northwest Passage exploration for England

  • Giovanni da Verrazano and Jacques Cartier's explorations for France