Overview
This lecture explains the causes and early events of European exploration in the Americas, focusing on Portugal, Spain, and the consequences of Columbus’s journey.
Causes of European Exploration
- Europe's population recovered after the Black Plague, leading to renewed interest in trade and expansion.
- Centralized governments under powerful monarchs provided political stability for overseas ventures.
- Wealthy European upper classes desired luxury goods from Asia, increasing demand for new trade routes.
- Muslim control over land-based trade routes in Afro-Eurasia pushed Europeans to seek sea routes to Asia.
Portugal’s Role in Exploration
- Portugal, led by Prince Henry the Navigator, sought a sea route to Asia by sailing around Africa.
- Portuguese established a "trading post empire" along Africa’s coast and dominated Indian Ocean trade.
- They used caravels (nimble trade ships), maritime charts, astronomical tables, the astrolabe, and the sternpost rudder for improved navigation.
Spanish Exploration and Columbus
- Spain, unified under Isabella and Ferdinand, wanted to compete with Portugal economically and spread Christianity.
- Christopher Columbus received Spanish sponsorship to find a westward sea route to Asia.
- In 1492, Columbus landed in the Caribbean (San Salvador), mistaking it for the East Indies and calling the natives "Indians."
- Columbus returned to Spain with gold and enslaved natives, inciting further Spanish exploration in the Americas.
Outcomes and Impact
- It became clear Columbus had not found Asia, but his voyage initiated the Columbian Exchange—a major global transformation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Caravel — a small, fast, and maneuverable Portuguese trading ship.
- Trading Post Empire — a network of strategic coastal stations for trade rather than territorial conquest.
- Astrolabe — an instrument used to determine latitude by measuring the position of celestial bodies.
- Columbian Exchange — the widespread transfer of people, goods, plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds after Columbus’s voyage.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review content on the Columbian Exchange for the next lesson.