Age+of+Exploration

Age of Exploration -Kaylee Stock, Makenzie Preston, Nicole Johnson 1500-1800

"Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World"- Christopher Columbus

Between the dynamic energy of the Western world and the wealth found through worldwide trading, the want to explore the rest of the world had never been higher. Economic motives fueled the need to expand, especially the want of trading with the other parts of the world. Europe mostly wanted the spices from the East, but also hoped to find precious metals and spread the Catholic faith. With the want in place and new developments being made in resources and technology the Europeans set out on new voyages. A new global age had started.

Portugal was the first country to take control and lead exploration. They started southward along the west coast of Africa. This coast became known as the Gold Coast, because of the new source of gold they had discovered there. They then sailed into Melaka in search of spice trade. This expedition launched other expeditions in to China and the Mouluccas, which eventually led to Portugal taking control of the spice trade. With this control the Portuguese trading empire had become complete. Though they had created an empire though, the Portuguese kept it limited with trading posts. They had neither the desire or resources to colonize the Asia regions. Overall, the Portuguese might of been the first successful explorers but were not the last. European force soon came and Portugual was no match for it's power.

The Spanish was the first other European force to step foward. One of the most important figures of Spanish exploration was Christopher Columbus. He persuaded Queen Isabella to finance an Expedition. He reached the Americas in 1492, where he explored Cuba and Hispaniola. He had believed he had reached Asia and through three more journeys he sought for a route to the Asia mainland.Inall his vovages he reached all the major islands of the Caribbean and Honduras. With Columbus's discovery of the Americas new explorers raced to gert there. John Cabot and Amerigo Vespucci were some of the main leaders of the "race". Countries called the new lands they discovers the New World and imediately began to conquest. Spanish conquerors were known as conquistadors and helped the Spanish gain much territory fast. The Spanish soon took control of the Native Americans already living in the New World and used them as slaves. the Spanish set up an empire that lasted for years. But soon several new rivals arrived and established teritories of their own. Led by Portugual and Spain many European nations set up colonies and trading posts. With new empires came the control others though. In 1518 and throughout the next two centuries slave trade grew dramatically and became part of the triangular trade. the effects slave trade had on countries varied from area to area but either way became a huge part of the new world economy.



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__**Important People:**__ __** Christopher Columbus- **__ Christopher Columbus was one of the greatest sailors and explorers of all time. In 1492, Christopher's exploration to the New World linked Europe and the Americas. His discoveries enlarged the world and began a new age of exploration. His vision and courage changed the history of the world. __** Ferdinand Megellan- **__ Magellan's expedition of 1519–1522 became the first expedition to sail from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean (then named "peaceful sea" by Magellan; __** Prince Henry the Navigator- **__ Henry the Navigator (Henrique o Navegador Porto, 4 March 1394 - 13 November 1460) was an infante (prince) of the Kingdom of Portugal and an important figure in the early days of the Portuguese Empire, being responsible for the beginning of the worldwide European explorations and maritime trade. __** Francisco Pizarro- **__ Pizarro: Spanish conquistador who conquered the Incas in what is now Peru and founded the city of Lima (1475-1541) __** Hernando Cortes- **__ Was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brouht large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century.

__** TERMS: **__

__** trade winds: **__ Winds that blow steadily from east to west and toward the equator. Helped blow the explorers across the Atlantic Ocean. __** doldrums: **__ a frequentily windless area near the Equator __** horse latitudes: **__ difficult area to sail where the trade winds and prevailing westerlies meet around 30-35 degrees N __** Vikings: **__ people from Scandinavia, were skilled sailors. They also engaged in exploration in North America, where they briefly established a colony. __** Conquistadors: **__ Spanish word for "conquerors". Explorers sent by Spain to search for gold in America

__**TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS:**__ **1430** **-** Infante Dom Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator) - sailed to the Madeiras and Azores, and south, along the coast of Africa, to the western bulge of Africa (Cabo de Não)
 * 1434- ** Gil Eanes**,** set sail in 1434 and rounded Cabo de Não, discovering that the reputed terrors of the southern ocean did not exist.
 * 1492 - 1493**-Columbus set sail from port of Palos, in southern Spain on August 3, 1492. Sighted land in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, discovered Cuba, Española, and other islands in West Indies. Returned March 4, 1493
 * 1498**- **John Cabot** (**Second Voyage**) - sailed from Bristol in May, 1498. His four ships, and crew were lost at sea, and never heard from again.
 * 1502**- Columbus sailed, from the port of Cadiz on May 11, 1502, on his fourth and last voyage searching for a passage to the Spice Islands.
 * 1505**-Juan Bermúdez - of Palos, discovered Bermuda in 1505.
 * 1513**- Juan Ponce de Leon - set sail from San German, Puerto Rico, on March 3, 1513, in search of the Fountain of Youth. They sailed northwest and on April 2nd, sighted, what he thought was a large island.
 * 1522 - 1546**-Francisco de Montejo - One of Cortez's generals, that was sent to the Yucatan region of Mexico and Guatemala to conquer the Mayans. By 1546, the northern Mayan cities had been defeated, and 500,000 were sold into slavery. Some groups of Mayan's continued fighting, and the Itza tribe was finally subdued in 1967.
 * 1528 - 1529**- Giovanni da Verrazzano - sailed from Dieppe, France in the spring of 1528, searching for the passage to the Pacific. They sighted Florida, then sailed to the Bahamas, and then set course to the Isthmus of Darien.
 * 1536**- Richard Hore - sailed from Gravesend, England, near the end of April, 1536 on for the purpose of catching codfish and taking tourist on a cruise to the northeast coast of North America.

__**LINKS:**__ Age of Exploration- overview on the time period and the main contributors to exploration. Age of Exploration- Reasons for Exploration and Key Voyages are put into more detail here. Age of Exploration- A closer look at the explorer Christopher Columbus and what his life was like. Age of Exploration- a biography of times were like and important events that took place during this time period. Age of Exploration- CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS' VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY: JEWISH AND NEW CHRISTIAN ELEMENTS