European Exploration!

Factors that Encouraged European Exploration

• Wealth through trade – bypass Muslim and Italian trader (too expensive)

• Help spread Christianity

• Advances in Technology– Caravel – allowed ship to travel against the

wind– Astrolab and Sextant – better navigation

New Route to the East

• Portuguese establish trading posts along the western coast of Africa

• Desire spices, precious metals and tropical commodities

• Bart. Dias first to make it around the Cape of Good hope

New Route to the East

• Portuguese sailor Vasco De Gama first to make it around Africa to India.

• Portuguese establish multiple trading posts and break Italian and Muslim monopolies.

Competition with Spain

• Spain unifies as a country after the reconquista.

• Jealous of Portuguese economic success: desire trade route to Asia.

Christopher Columbus

• Italian sailor Columbus convinces Spanish monarchy that he could open a westward route to Asia.

• Runs into Caribbean Is. – Thinks its India – Calls inhabitants “Indians.”

Tension

• Spanish success in the Western Hemisphere creates tension between Spain and Portuguese.

• Pope makes them sign the Treaty of Tordesillas – giving Spain most of modern day Brazil.