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
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