The Age of Exploration and Discovery

The Age of Exploration and Discovery

1. Portuguese

   • Sailed East
     • India
   • Prince Henry
     • WAS NOT AN EXPLORER
     • Son of King John of Portugal
     • Prince Henry the Navigator
     • Set up a school of navigation - Sagres
     • Sierra Leone - Africa
     • 1460 - death
   • Bartholomew Diaz
     • 1487 reached cape of storms - later the cape of good hope because there was now hope in reaching India.
   • Vasco da Gama
     • Malindi - Kenya
       • Arab pilot to Caliut India
         • Returned with great quantities of cloves, cinnamon and other spies
           • And jewels,rubies and precious stones

2. Spanish

   • Sailed West
   • Columbus
     • Believed the world was round
     • By sailing west into the Atlantic ocean he would discover a sea-route to china and India
     • italian
     • Prince Ferdinand and Queen Isabella - Sponser
       • 7 years pleading
       • paid for 3 ships
         • a nao - Santa Maria and caravels - the Nina and the Pinta
           • The Pinzon brothers commanded the Nina and The Pinta
       • Food for the journey - salted meat,bread,dried fruit,beans,garlic,wine
     • 3rd August - Palos departured
       • Reached the CANARY ISLANDS to take on supplies
         • 33 days later landed on SAN SALVADOR
           • claimed for Spain.
             • Later they explored Jamaica,Hispaniola and Cuba
               • Referred to the people as Indians as he thought he was in India
                 • remarked 'they ought to make good servants'
                   • Santa Maria was wrecked,The 'Indians' helped rebuild it
                     • Returned to Palos with the remaining two ships and a llittle gold,parrots and 6 kidnapped 'Indians'
                       • Was given the title of 'Admiral of the Sea'
                         • Died a bitter and disappointed man

3. Why did people want to explore new trade routes?

   • Greed,power and glory
     • Control of 'new lands'
       • Supply Gold,slaves,agricultural land,spies
     • Leaders of voyages were promised riches and posh titles
       • Christopher Columbus
   • Safer and cheaper trade
     • The Spice Islands
     • Turkish Empire
     • Cloves,cinnamon,peppers,ginger
       • Spices were used to preserve food and in medicines
     • Silks - China
     • Jewels - India
   • Religion
     • Convert people to Christianity
     • Believed Christianity was the one true religion
   • The Renaissance Spirit
     • Questioning Spirit
     • Confidence in their abilities
   • Adventure
   • Prester John-African King (myth)
     • To defeat the turks
       • Crusades
         • Old Enemies

4. What made voyages possible?

   • Ships
     • Naos - larger ships towards the end of the 15th century.
     • Caravels
       • Square Sails
       • Clinker Built
       • Large rudders
       • Triangular lateen sails
         • Tack or sail against the wind
   • Aids to Navigation
     • Compass told the direction
     • Log and Line measured speed
     • Swinging the lead - Depth of the water
     • Astrolabe/Quadrant
       • calculate latitude
       • Stars
     • portolan chartrs - accurate coastal charts