文档介绍：An Age of Explorations and Isolation1400-1800
Chapter 19
p. 526-548
Background
By 1400, Europeans were ready to venture beyond their borders
Renaissance encouraged a new
spirit of adventure and curiosity
Printing press spread ideas and
new maps and charts
I. Causes of European Exploration
#1- New Trade Routes
People want wealth; achieve that through trade
Traded spices (nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, pepper)
Introduced during Crusades; people still demanded goods once wars ended
Demand greater than supply= high prices
Causes of European Exploration (cont’d)
Trade routes controlled by Italians and Muslims
Muslims sold Asian goods to Italians
Italian merchants resold items at increased prices to merchants throughout Europe
Other traders did NOT like this and wanted new routes that bypassed Italian merchants
Causes of European Exploration (cont’d)
#2- Spread Christianity
Crusades left hostility between Christians and Muslims
Europeans believed they
had a sacred duty to
continue fighting Muslims
and to convert non-Christians
Causes of European Exploration (cont’d)
Bartolomeu Dias: early Portuguese explorer
“For God, Glory, and Gold”
(”To serve God and His majesty, to give light to those who were in darkness and to grow rich as all men desire to do.”)
Causes of European Exploration (cont’d)
#3- New Exploration Technologies
Caravel: stronger, sturdier ship with triangular sails (adopted from Arabs); made it possible to sail against the wind
Astrolabe: brass circle w/ carefully
adjusted rings marked off in
degrees; used to calculate latitude
(perfected by Muslims)
Compass: ically tracked
direction (Chinese invention)
II. Portugal leads the way
Portugal was 1st to establish trading outposts along the west coast of Africa
Prince Henry: son of Portugal’s king
Nation’s most enthusiastic supporter of exploration
Conquered Muslim city in North Africa where he discovered exotic wealth never found in Europe (cinnamon, cloves, pepper, silver, gold, jewels.