Assess the validity of this statement.. The Age of Exploration 1400s to 1700s.
Age of Exploration 1400s to 1700s
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Transcript of Age of Exploration 1400s to 1700s
Age of Exploration1400s to 1700s
Motives
Search for new trade routes wanted to find a quicker way to AsiaDesire for new products Crusades and travels of Marco Polo stimulated an interest in Asian goodsTechnology improved that allowed overseas exploration; gunpowder allowed Europeans to dominateReligion Christian rulers wanted to spread religion
Effects
Native American civilizations destroyedEuropean diseases killed millions of Native AmericansEuropean powers built extensive overseas empiresLarge numbers of Europeans moved to AmericasNative American crops (corn, potato, tomato) brought to Europe [Colombian Exchange]
Demand for African slaves increasedCapitalism expanded with growth of tradeCultural exchanges occurred [cultural diffusion]
Christopher Columbus
Accidentally found America while looking for a westward route to Asia
His voyages considered a turning point in history
Vasco da Gama
Discovered an all-water route from Europe to India
Ferdinand Magellan
First person credited with circumnavigating the world
Hernando Cortes
Conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico in 1519
Francisco Pizarro
Conquered the Inca Empire in Peru in 1833
Marco Polo
Traveled to China [court of Kublai Khan] and brought back stories and goods to Europe
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade1500s to 1800s
Causes
Europeans wanted cheap labor for work in the Americas
Due to the demands of the agricultural economies of the New World
The native peoples of America did not survive the labor
Effects
Encouraged African warfare tribes went to war with other tribes to obtain slaves to trade for guns
Disrupted African culture it created a legacy of violence, bitterness and social upheaval
Increased cultural diffusionSlaves brought their songs and culture to New World
Prejudice against Africans
Imperialism
Domination by one country over the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region
CausesEconomic Social Political
Need for raw materials created by Industrial Revolution
Desire for place to invest excess capital
Drive to spread Christianity [White Man’s Burden]
Rule by strongest and fittest- need to spread superior culture [Social Darwinism]
Desire for great power status
Competitive drive to gain control of an area (for military) before a rival could do so
Some Examples
Spanish control of Latin America [old imperialism]
British control of India
Berlin Conference to divide Africa
Japanese control of Manchuria
Positive Effects
Built roads, railroads, and bridgesEducation improvedImproved medical careFood supply increasedBrought stability and unification to some areasCreated industries, improved standard of living
Negative EffectsPeople with common backgrounds separatedNatural resources exploitedNative cultures damaged
Promoted racism
Economic self-sufficiency lostDestroyed traditional patterns of trade
Cash crop overemphasizedFamily life disrupted
Introduced Western vices and diseases