Exploration and Discovery: The Age of Exploration and its Impact
In the 15th century (1400s), Europeans had a limited understanding of the world. They knew about Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, China, Japan, and India. However, they were unaware of the existence of continents like America, Africa, and Oceania.
During the 1400s, wealthy Europeans enjoyed luxury goods from Asia, including spices like pepper, cloves, and cinnamon, silks, and jewels. However, trade routes to Asia became increasingly difficult due to heavy taxes imposed by Muslim rulers. This led some to believe that reaching Asia by sea might be possible, sparking voyages of exploration.
The School of Navigators
The School of Navigators was a group of Portuguese scientists and experts in ocean navigation during the 15th century. It was founded by Prince Henry the Navigator, who played a crucial role in promoting exploration.
Key Terms
- Trade Route: A route used to transport goods between civilizations.
- Factories: Fortified trading posts that controlled trade and provided security.
Portuguese Exploration
The Portuguese were motivated by the desire for new markets and their opposition to Muslim control of trade routes. They embarked on a series of voyages along the coast of Africa, leading to significant discoveries.
Notable Portuguese Voyages
- Diogo Cão (1482): Sailed from Portugal to the Gulf of Guinea (West Africa).
- Bartolomeu Dias (1487-1488): Sailed from Portugal to the Gulf of Guinea and reached the Cape of Good Hope (Africa).
- Vasco da Gama (1497-1499): Sailed from Portugal to the Cape of Good Hope, reaching Calcutta, Ceylon, the Maluku Islands, the Philippines, China, and Japan.
- Alvares Cabral (1500): Sailed from Portugal to Porto Seguro (Brazil).
The Discovery of America
Key Figures
- Christopher Columbus: A marine adventurer who believed the Earth was round and set out to find a new route to Asia. He is credited with discovering America.
- Catholic Monarchs: King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, who funded Columbus’s voyages.
- Amerigo Vespucci: An Italian navigator who was the first to realize that America was a new continent.
- Treaty of Tordesillas (1494): An agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided the world into spheres of influence, avoiding conflict over newly discovered lands.
- Ferdinand Magellan: A Portuguese navigator who led the first circumnavigation of the globe.
- Juan Sebastián Elcano: The first navigator to complete the first circumnavigation of the world.
Key Events
- Columbus’s First Voyage: The Catholic Monarchs provided Columbus with ships to test his theory. He landed on Guanahani Island, which he named San Salvador.
- Treaty of Tordesillas: Signed on July 7, 1494, by Portugal and Castile (Spain). It established a line of demarcation that divided the world into Portuguese and Spanish territories.
Pre-Columbian America
Pre-Columbian peoples inhabited the Americas before the arrival of Columbus. They developed complex civilizations with unique cultures, religions, and societies.
Key Civilizations
- The Incas: Located in the central Andes, they created a vast empire that included parts of modern-day Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. Their emperor was the Inca, believed to be the son of the sun. Their capital was Cuzco, and they were polytheistic, worshipping gods like Inti and Viracocha. They built impressive temples, palaces, fortresses, and a network of roads.
- The Mayas: They lived in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) and other parts of Central America. They were organized into independent cities ruled by chieftains. Their economy was based on agriculture, and they worshipped various gods. They built palaces and temples in the form of step pyramids.
- The Aztecs: Their emperor held political and religious power. Their economy was based on agriculture, and they worshipped various gods, offering human sacrifices. They built fortified cities, palaces, and temples in the form of pyramids.
Social and Economic Change
The Age of Exploration brought significant social and economic changes to Europe.
Key Concepts
- Black Death: A pandemic disease that ravaged Europe in the 14th century.
- Bourgeoisie: A social class that refers to people belonging to the middle or upper-middle class.
- Craftsmen: Workers who practiced a trade or handicraft.
- Peasant: A pre-industrial agricultural laborer or farmer with limited land ownership.
- Checks: Documents instructing a bank to transfer money from one person to another.
- Bills of Exchange: A method of settling accounts in international trade.
- Trading Companies: European countries established these companies to conduct trade and establish settlements in their colonies.
Key Documents
- Capitulations of Santa Fe: A document signed by the Catholic Monarchs that outlined the agreements with Christopher Columbus.
Key Figures
- Marco Polo: An explorer and merchant who traveled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295.