European Exploration

1
European Exploration

• During the Great Convergence era (1400s-1600s)
  when Europeans set out to explore the world, and,
  as a result discovered other peoples and
  cultures (such as the Native Americans)

2
Why did Europeans want to explore?

• Two reasons motivated Europeans to explore.
• Reason 1 Religion
• Christian Europeans believed that it would please
  God if they converted non-Christians to their
  faith.

3
Why did the Europeans want to explore?

• Reason 2 Trade
• In order to meet the needs of people living in
  Europe at that time.

• Europeans wanted metals for coins, weapons and
  tools and the European supply of metals was
  running low.
• Europeans wanted spices to flavor and preserve
  their food (there are no refrigerators at this
  time!).
• Wealthy Europeans desired silks for fine clothing.

4
Why did the Europeans need a water route?

• In the 1300s, Europeans were trading partners
  with Asians especially for spices and silks.
• This trade occurred over land through the Middle
  East along trade routes known as the Silk Road.

5
Why did the Europeans need a water route?

• By the 1400s, Europeans desired to find water
  routes to Asia so that they did not have to
  conduct trade through the Middle East.
• It was considered dangerous to trade on land
  through the Middle East due to religious wars
  between Muslims and Christians. (These wars were
  called the Crusades.)

6
Technology plays a role in the Age of Exploration

• Advances in technology also enabled the Europeans
  to begin to explore the world via water
• The Europeans borrowed many ideas from Muslims
  and Asians

• Technology 1 magnetic compass (from the
  Chinese) helped to determine direction

7
Technology plays a role in the Age of Exploration

• Technology 2 astrolabe
• (rediscovered from the Ancient Greeks by the
  Muslims)
• The astrolabe enabled sailors to chart their
  ships location by using the stars

8
Technology plays a role in the Age of Exploration

• Technology 3 caravels
• The caravel was new ship. It was lighter,
  faster, and easier to steer. It also had
  triangular sails which allowed the ship to sail
  against the wind.

9
Turn to the next page in your notebook

• Divide your paper in half with a horizontal line
• On the top half of the page, create a brainstorm
  web with background knowledge about Christopher
  Columbus

10

• Create a T-chart on the bottom half of the page
  on the left write Observations, on the right
  write Inferences
• Observations are things that can be touched on
  the screen
• Inferences are ideas about what the picture means
  based on your observations

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Encounter by Jane Yolen

• Title the next page in your notebook Encounter
  by Jane Yolen
• Make a prediction about the story based on the
  cover art work. What will the story be about?
  Who will be involved? Who are the people on the
  cover?
• What do the Taino give to the Spanish?
• What do the Spanish give to the Taino?
• Bulleted summary of story.