Overview
This lecture covers the causes of European exploration, focusing on the social, economic, religious, and political changes in Europe that enabled and motivated overseas expansion.
Pre-Exploration Europe
- Before 1450, Europe was politically decentralized and less powerful compared to Asian and Islamic empires.
- The Black Death and the Little Ice Age caused population decline and agricultural hardship in Europe.
- Warmer climate and improved farming techniques led to increased agricultural productivity and population growth.
- Population increase revived European demand for Asian luxury goods.
- The Renaissance sparked a cultural rebirth, further strengthening various European states.
- Political unification created more stable and powerful European governments, paving the way for exploration.
Motives for Exploration: Gold, God, and Glory
- Europeans sought new trade routes for Asian goods after the Ottoman Empire took control of Constantinople in 1453.
- Portugal led maritime exploration, using trading-post empires around Africa and in the Indian Ocean.
- Vasco da Gama reached India by sailing around Africa in 1498, establishing Portuguese presence in Asian trade.
- Spain, unable to access the Indian Ocean, funded Columbus in 1492 to find a western route to Asia.
- Columbus reached the Caribbean, believing he had arrived in Asia, leading to further Spanish colonization efforts.
Religious Motives
- European society was dominated by Roman Catholic Christianity, which created cultural unity.
- Corruption such as simony and the sale of indulgences led to criticism from reformers like Martin Luther.
- In 1517, Luther's 95 Theses sparked the Protestant Reformation, splitting Christianity in Europe.
- Competition between Catholic and Protestant states spilled into exploration, with each seeking to spread their faith.
- Spain unified under Ferdinand and Isabella, completed the Reconquista in 1492, and enforced Catholic dominance through the Inquisition.
- Religious rivalry fueled European efforts to convert indigenous populations.
Political Motives and Competition
- Colonization became a way for European states to increase power and prestige (glory).
- Spain initially dominated colonization in the Americas, prompting other nations to compete for colonies.
- Emergence of nation-states intensified competition for overseas empire building.
- The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), mediated by the pope, divided the Americas between Spain and Portugal, ignoring indigenous peoples.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Renaissance — The cultural rebirth of Europe characterized by advancements in arts, science, and thought.
- Trading Post Empire — An empire based on controlling trade routes and ports rather than large territories.
- Simony — The buying and selling of church positions.
- Indulgences — Payments made to the Catholic Church for the forgiveness of sins.
- Protestant Reformation — A religious movement that challenged Catholic practices, leading to the creation of Protestant churches.
- Reconquista — The Christian reconquest of Muslim-controlled territories in Spain, completed in 1492.
- Nation-state — A political unit governed by a centralized authority representing a unified people.
- Treaty of Tordesillas — The 1494 agreement that divided New World lands between Spain and Portugal.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the causes of European exploration and their effects on world history.
- Prepare for the next lecture on the impact of European colonization in the Americas.