AGE OF EXPLORATION
The Voyages of Discovery
I. Advances in Sailing Technology
Main Idea: New technologies made long ocean voyages possible.
A. More accurate maps and globes were created
1. Cartography: science of making maps and globes
2. Explorers= inspired by inventions
B. Navigation tools helped explorers
1. Compass= shows direction
2. Astrolabe= determines north/south position using stars
3. Tools allowed sailors to navigate without reference in open sea
C. New ships were created which were more suited for open ocean.
1. Caravel= small, narrow, 2-3 masts, navigate through harsh conditions, fast
2. Galleon= large, fast, 3 masts, square/triangle sails, carried cargo
II. Voyages Into the Unknown
Main Idea: The voyages of discovery gave Europeans a new view of the world.
A. Portuguese went east, many discoveries.
1. Bartolomeu Dias discovered that the Indian Ocean could be reached by sea.
2. Vasco da Gama (1497) rounded Cape of Good Hope, went to India, 2 years later returned to Portugal;
charted a round trip route.
B. Christopher Columbus sailed west, studied works of Ptolemy.
1. Predicted distance from Europe west to Asia was thousands of miles less than it really was
2. Support of Spain rulers, sailed to Bahamas, thought it was China. 3 return voyages, but no traces of
Asian mainland.
C. 1500, Pedro Cabral tried going to Indian Ocean, but ended up in South America.
1. 1501, explorers= sent to find Cabral, Amerigo Vespucci (Italian) wrote about "New World"
2. America was named after Amerigo
D. 1519, Ferdinand Magellan hoped to find a western route to Asia.
1. Went through the Strait of Magellan, north then west across Pacific, many sailors died of scurvy.
2. Tried to gain land for Spain, Magellan= killed by islanders, only 18 surviving crew made it back to
Spain
3. They circumnavigated the world.
E. Europeans had a new view of the world.
1. Showed extent of African continent, revealed North/South America.
2. Cartography improved; Earth was shown on a flat grid.
Main Idea: New technologies made long ocean voyages possible.
A. More accurate maps and globes were created
1. Cartography: science of making maps and globes
2. Explorers= inspired by inventions
B. Navigation tools helped explorers
1. Compass= shows direction
2. Astrolabe= determines north/south position using stars
3. Tools allowed sailors to navigate without reference in open sea
C. New ships were created which were more suited for open ocean.
1. Caravel= small, narrow, 2-3 masts, navigate through harsh conditions, fast
2. Galleon= large, fast, 3 masts, square/triangle sails, carried cargo
II. Voyages Into the Unknown
Main Idea: The voyages of discovery gave Europeans a new view of the world.
A. Portuguese went east, many discoveries.
1. Bartolomeu Dias discovered that the Indian Ocean could be reached by sea.
2. Vasco da Gama (1497) rounded Cape of Good Hope, went to India, 2 years later returned to Portugal;
charted a round trip route.
B. Christopher Columbus sailed west, studied works of Ptolemy.
1. Predicted distance from Europe west to Asia was thousands of miles less than it really was
2. Support of Spain rulers, sailed to Bahamas, thought it was China. 3 return voyages, but no traces of
Asian mainland.
C. 1500, Pedro Cabral tried going to Indian Ocean, but ended up in South America.
1. 1501, explorers= sent to find Cabral, Amerigo Vespucci (Italian) wrote about "New World"
2. America was named after Amerigo
D. 1519, Ferdinand Magellan hoped to find a western route to Asia.
1. Went through the Strait of Magellan, north then west across Pacific, many sailors died of scurvy.
2. Tried to gain land for Spain, Magellan= killed by islanders, only 18 surviving crew made it back to
Spain
3. They circumnavigated the world.
E. Europeans had a new view of the world.
1. Showed extent of African continent, revealed North/South America.
2. Cartography improved; Earth was shown on a flat grid.
The Conquest of the Americas
I. The Spanish Conquer Two Empires
Main Idea: Spanish soldiers defeated the Aztecs and Incas.
A. 1519, Hernan Cortes= conquistador, sailed to Mexico to conquer Aztecs
1. 600 soldiers vs. Moctezuma's big armies. Cortes's interpreters learned vital information about Aztecs.
2. Aztec enemies formed alliances with Hernan Cortes
3. Moctezuma welcomed Cortes, but the hospitality was met with treachery, Moctezuma taken as
prisoner. Moctezuma= killed, Spanish retreat. Smallpox kills Aztecs, Spanish siege the city.
B. Francisco Pizarro, 1531= to conquer Inca empire.
1. Inca= suffered small pox, emperor died. Atahualpha won the throne, but empire= weakened and
divided.
2. Pizarro took advantage, imprisoned emperor for ransom. Rejected the ransom, and killed the
emperor; Spanish won.
II. The Impact of Conquest
Main Idea: Conquests enriched Spain but devastated the Aztecs and Incas.
A. Spain took the Aztec and Inca treasures, monarch= 1/5 of treasure for himself
1. Sent galleon fleets to collect treasure each year.
2. Pirates robbed ships for gold and silver.
B. Conquistadors caused loss of Native American Culture.
1. Wrecked cities, melted down gold ornaments, statues, and wall decoration
2. Destroyed religious temples, statues, and books
3. Aztecs and Incas died of epidemics (smallpox) because they lacked immunity to new diseases
Main Idea: Spanish soldiers defeated the Aztecs and Incas.
A. 1519, Hernan Cortes= conquistador, sailed to Mexico to conquer Aztecs
1. 600 soldiers vs. Moctezuma's big armies. Cortes's interpreters learned vital information about Aztecs.
2. Aztec enemies formed alliances with Hernan Cortes
3. Moctezuma welcomed Cortes, but the hospitality was met with treachery, Moctezuma taken as
prisoner. Moctezuma= killed, Spanish retreat. Smallpox kills Aztecs, Spanish siege the city.
B. Francisco Pizarro, 1531= to conquer Inca empire.
1. Inca= suffered small pox, emperor died. Atahualpha won the throne, but empire= weakened and
divided.
2. Pizarro took advantage, imprisoned emperor for ransom. Rejected the ransom, and killed the
emperor; Spanish won.
II. The Impact of Conquest
Main Idea: Conquests enriched Spain but devastated the Aztecs and Incas.
A. Spain took the Aztec and Inca treasures, monarch= 1/5 of treasure for himself
1. Sent galleon fleets to collect treasure each year.
2. Pirates robbed ships for gold and silver.
B. Conquistadors caused loss of Native American Culture.
1. Wrecked cities, melted down gold ornaments, statues, and wall decoration
2. Destroyed religious temples, statues, and books
3. Aztecs and Incas died of epidemics (smallpox) because they lacked immunity to new diseases
The Planting of Colonies
I. Global Empires
Main Idea: European nations founded global empires.
A. Portuguese set up trading posts so that they could trade freely with many countries
1. Dutch traders challenged Portuguese, won much territory
B.European nations set up colonies, Spain= America, Portuguese= Brazil, Dutch= S. America, French=
Caribbean islands, English= N. America
C. Catholic missionaries worked in Spanish, Portuguese and French colonies.
1. Had mixed success, some converted, others did not
II. The Columbian Exchange
Main Idea: The Great Voyages of discovery started a global exchange of people, plants, animals, disease, and ideas.
A. The Columbian Exchange is when people, other living things, and ideas were traded between East and
West hemispheres.
B. Plants were exchanged and altered global eating habits, increasing population
1. Corn= important, sugar cane= started sugar plantation and the use of slaves
C. African slaves= taken to Americas, people from all over the world went to America.
1. Formed most diverse societies.
D. Columbus introduced hoses, cows, pigs, goats, and chickens to Americas.
1. Animals adapted, horse= important to Native American cultures
E. Disease was spread throughout the world, may have traveled with sailors
1. Eastern Hemisphere= many people killed from sickness
F. Beliefs, ideas, and religion= globally exchanged
Main Idea: European nations founded global empires.
A. Portuguese set up trading posts so that they could trade freely with many countries
1. Dutch traders challenged Portuguese, won much territory
B.European nations set up colonies, Spain= America, Portuguese= Brazil, Dutch= S. America, French=
Caribbean islands, English= N. America
C. Catholic missionaries worked in Spanish, Portuguese and French colonies.
1. Had mixed success, some converted, others did not
II. The Columbian Exchange
Main Idea: The Great Voyages of discovery started a global exchange of people, plants, animals, disease, and ideas.
A. The Columbian Exchange is when people, other living things, and ideas were traded between East and
West hemispheres.
B. Plants were exchanged and altered global eating habits, increasing population
1. Corn= important, sugar cane= started sugar plantation and the use of slaves
C. African slaves= taken to Americas, people from all over the world went to America.
1. Formed most diverse societies.
D. Columbus introduced hoses, cows, pigs, goats, and chickens to Americas.
1. Animals adapted, horse= important to Native American cultures
E. Disease was spread throughout the world, may have traveled with sailors
1. Eastern Hemisphere= many people killed from sickness
F. Beliefs, ideas, and religion= globally exchanged
The Origins of Modern Capitalism
I. The Beginnings of Capitalism
Main Idea: A new kind of economy appeared in Europe after 1500.
A. New economic system= capitalism.
1. Capitalism: economy based on private ownership of property,and use of property to compete for
profit or gain in a market
2. Free market= important, sellers compete to supply goods, supply and demand
B. The price revolution caused the prices of food and other good to go up.
1. Caused by population growth, more people= need more food. Also, people had more money from
America's treasures.
2. Higher prices= bigger profit, profits used to invest in business.
C. Price revolution benefited landowners, higher prices= higher profits.
1. Landownership= important part of capitalism. People buy land, tools, and seeds to grow crops. They
can also sell their land, or sell the crops produced from the land.
2. Ended feudalism in the Netherlands and England; serfs no longer worked for a lord, had limited work
options
D. Goods prices= driven up.
1. Cloth= popular, merchants wanted to produce it more cheaply to make a larger profit.
2. Bought cheap raw wool, paid families in the village to weave it into cloth, sold it for the highest price.
3. Cottage industry: workers who work at home with their own equipment, early form of capitalism.
E. Dutch and English= market economy.
1. Market economy: rices and good distribution= based on competition, supply and demand set the
prices.
II. Mercantilism
Main Idea: Nations developed a new policy about increasing wealth and power.
A. Mercantilism: economic policy that promotes building nation's strength by expanding its trade.
1. Mercantile policy= main goal of trade is to create a more power ful nation, also, the best way to
increase wealth is by exporting valuable goods.
2. Most European nations practiced mercantilism, founded colonies which provided raw materials that
were used to create goods, bought home country's good; not allowed to trade with any other
countries.
Main Idea: A new kind of economy appeared in Europe after 1500.
A. New economic system= capitalism.
1. Capitalism: economy based on private ownership of property,and use of property to compete for
profit or gain in a market
2. Free market= important, sellers compete to supply goods, supply and demand
B. The price revolution caused the prices of food and other good to go up.
1. Caused by population growth, more people= need more food. Also, people had more money from
America's treasures.
2. Higher prices= bigger profit, profits used to invest in business.
C. Price revolution benefited landowners, higher prices= higher profits.
1. Landownership= important part of capitalism. People buy land, tools, and seeds to grow crops. They
can also sell their land, or sell the crops produced from the land.
2. Ended feudalism in the Netherlands and England; serfs no longer worked for a lord, had limited work
options
D. Goods prices= driven up.
1. Cloth= popular, merchants wanted to produce it more cheaply to make a larger profit.
2. Bought cheap raw wool, paid families in the village to weave it into cloth, sold it for the highest price.
3. Cottage industry: workers who work at home with their own equipment, early form of capitalism.
E. Dutch and English= market economy.
1. Market economy: rices and good distribution= based on competition, supply and demand set the
prices.
II. Mercantilism
Main Idea: Nations developed a new policy about increasing wealth and power.
A. Mercantilism: economic policy that promotes building nation's strength by expanding its trade.
1. Mercantile policy= main goal of trade is to create a more power ful nation, also, the best way to
increase wealth is by exporting valuable goods.
2. Most European nations practiced mercantilism, founded colonies which provided raw materials that
were used to create goods, bought home country's good; not allowed to trade with any other
countries.