the age of exploration

The Age of Explorations and Conquest

  • Reasons for Exploration

    • Trade: Need for sea routes due to the closure of the Silk Road after Turks captured Constantinople.

    • National Pride and Glory: European nations aimed to control colonies to increase wealth and status.

    • Spread of Christianity: Desire to spread Christianity among peoples practicing non-Christian faiths.

  • Influence of Marco Polo

    • Italian merchant whose travels in Asia inspired many explorers during the Age of Exploration.

  • Technological Advancements:

    • Caravel Ships: Allowed navigation against the wind; equipped with sails, rudders, and castles for spotting enemies.

    • Navigation Instruments: Compasses for direction, astrolabes and quadrants for measuring latitude.

    • Detailed Maps: Improved accuracy in landmass and coastal area representation.

    • Logline: Innovated method to measure ship speed using knots.

Portuguese Explorations

  • Pioneering Voyages:

    • Prince Henry the Navigator: Sponsored explorations to find new trade routes to India and spread Christianity.

    • Bartolomeu Dias: First to round the southern Cape of Africa.

    • Vasco da Gama: First European to sail directly from Europe to India, establishing lucrative trade routes for Portugal.

Christopher Columbus

  • Acquired sponsorship from King and Queen of Spain for a voyage in 1492.

  • Set sail with three ships: Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria.

  • Believed he found a new route to Asia but actually discovered the Americas (New World).

The Conquistadors

  • Spanish Explorers: Conquered large parts of South America.

    • Hernando Cortez:

      • Conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico.

      • Launched his expedition in February 1519 with 11 ships.

      • Burned his ships upon landing to prevent retreat.

      • Initially welcomed by the Aztecs; took Emperor Montezuma hostage.

      • Returned with a larger force to conquer and rename the city to Mexico City.

  • Francisco Pizarro: Conquered the Incas in Peru.

Impact of Conquest and Colonization

  • Population Decline: Estimated 42 million natives died due to disease, murder, and mistreatment.

    • Diseases (smallpox, measles) contributed significantly to mortality.

  • Slave Trade: Span of 15th-19th centuries led to the forcible removal of 13 million Africans to work in America.

  • Cultural Replacement: Indigenous cultures, languages, and ways of life replaced by European cultures, leading to the eradication of local traditions.

  • Rise of Christianity: European religions predominantly replaced local beliefs in the Aztec and Incan civilizations.

  • Wars and Treaties: Conflicts over resources led to the Treaty of Tordesillas, dividing lands between Spain and Portugal.