New Ideas, New Nations
Why Did Spanish Explorers Want to Find America? The year is 1492 a good year for Queen Isabella. After centuries of struggle, Catholic forces have driven the Muslim invaders from Spain. She is grateful to God and determined to use her power for God's glory. Full of these thoughts, Isabella recalls a visit she received the year before. A sailor named Christopher Columbus said he knew of a new route to faraway Asia. She ignored him then. Now she is ready to listen. She knows if Columbus succeeds, it will bring glory to God and untold wealth to Spain. Queen Isabella agrees to give Columbus the ships and men he needs. Before long, he is ready to set sail. The European exploration of the Americas is about to begin.
How Do New Ideas Change the Way People Live? Dark Ages (Fall of the Roman Empire) 476 CE. Small kingdoms and city-states dominated by the Catholic Church. The Rise of Islam in the 600s ended Europe s isolation. Muslim scholars had gathered the lost arts and knowledge from Rome. In 1095 the Europeans launched the Crusades. *Compare wool/silk Europe wanted to access the riches of Asia, but the Silk Road was very long and could be dangerous.
The Growth of Trade The Three G s!!! Wealthy Europeans were eager to buy Asian spices, perfumes, silks, and precious stones. First, merchants bought them from Muslim traders from the Middle East. They travelled overland by caravan to the Mediterranean Sea, then by ship to Italian ports in Venice, Genoa, and Pisa. These cities prospered as centers of the growing trade. However, Arab traders charged high prices. A new route was needed to Cut out the middleman.
The Renaissance (Rebirth) By the 1300s, several Italian city-states had become strong economic and cultural centers. Their influence spread across Europe. The study of Pisa, Venice, and Genoa of Greco-Roman works became common. (During the Dark Ages this had been preserved by Muslim scholars.) Science = change. The testing of new and old theories of science led to experimentation and evaluation of results. The arts were influenced by classical forms and new ideas. Authors wrote about the individual's place in the universe. Artists studied classical sculpture and architecture (harmony and balance in Greek art).
The Rise of Powerful Nations By the 1400s: European nations went from a patchwork of small states to powerful monarchies. These included Spain, Portugal, England, France National Laws, courts, taxes, armies made them run smoothly. The main concern at the time was how to increase trade and get stronger and wealthier? Trade was the answer. Sea routes to Asia were desiredto cut out that middleman Now there was direct competition with Italian port cities.
The Effects of Technology The Printing Press, Reading of Marco Polo s Travels (1477) Better Maps and Instruments Cartographers drew maps that showed the directions of ocean currents. New maps showed lines of latitude and longitude. The astrolabe used stars to navigate The magnetic compass came by way of China in the 1200s. Better Ship Design helped too. The Caravel was faster than earlier ships and could carry more cargo. It had a stern and rudder and triangular sails. Ship comparisons