o The desire to reach East Asia where the goods were found led to improved navigation

o Italian traders created a monopoly (they controlled prices) in the Holy Land (Muslim traders would trade only with Italian traders) o This made goods too expensive for most Europeans

o This led to improved navigation to find an all water route to bypass the Middle East

a. Magnetic compass - to determine direction

b. Astrolabe – was used to calculate position using the sun and stars

c. Sextant - used to determine latitude by pointing at horizon and using the suns position

d. Caravel - a ship with 3 masts, 2 square sails and a single triangular sail that moved to catch crosswinds

• Educated people believed the world was round

a. 1st to search for an all water route to Asia was Portugal

b. They sailed south around Africa

Religion as a Cause• Most western

European nations were Catholic– Catholic church

controlled by the Pope

• Pope & the Church felt it necessary to spread Christianity – Missionaries left

Europe by the thousands to Christianize the world

– European monarchs charted many voyages with this plan

• Spain wants in on the wealth– To share in the rich

Asian trade

– Spread Christianity

– Gold, Glory, & spreading God

• Christopher Columbus– Sail west to reach Asia

• King & Queen accept his proposal

• Believed he found Asia

• Landed on the island of Hispaniola (Haiti)– Credited with

discovering the Americas

Spanish Exploration

• Spain & Portugal fought over new lands– Almost came to war

• Line of Demarcation– Line drawn to divide the

world between Spain and Portugal

– Portugal protested the placement of the line

• Treaty of Tordesillas– Moved the Line of

Demarcation west– Portugal able to settle in New World

Land Disputes in the New World

Mercantilism

• The colony’s sole purpose was to make money for the mother country

• Create a favorable balance of trade– Colonies provide raw materials– Colonies served as new markets for goods made

in the home country

Italians, Dutch, & French Italians, Dutch, & French only interested in tradingonly interested in tradingItalians, Dutch, & French Italians, Dutch, & French only interested in tradingonly interested in trading

English fished (originally) English fished (originally) off eastern CanadaEnglish fished (originally) English fished (originally) off eastern Canada

They created profitable industriesThey created profitable industries

Northwest Passage