Prince Henry the Navigator 1394-1460 Portugal Sponsored voyages of exploration along west African coast; supported study of navigation Motivation: To spread Christianity; to establish trade in Africa to bring wealth to Portugal Outcome: beginning of Atlantic slave trade Anecdote: Never went on a voyage himself; during his life, there was a great fear of crossing the equator (boiling water, sea monsters?)
Prince Henry the Navigator
1460-1524 Portugal Vasco Da Gama First to sail from Europe to India Motivation: To find a sea route to Asia; wealth from trade Tortured and killed Africans, Arabs, and Indians who did not cooperate with Portuguese; long-term result-- European domination of Africa, India Vasco da Gama's crew suffered from scurvy; 2/3 did not survive the journey to India; da Gama fought against Arab traders already established in the Indian Ocean
Vasco Da Gama
Christopher Columbus 1451-1506 He was Italian, sailed for Spain First European to discover the New World (America); he landed on the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and Dominican Republic) Motivation: 1. To sail west to Asia and around the world 2. To find gold (2nd voyage) Initially seemed friendly, but later enslaved Native Americans to search for gold for him. Long-term results: the decline of all native American populations Columbus never believed he had discovered new land, but instead died believing he had reached Asia.
Christopher Columbus
Ferdinand Magellan 1480-1521 He was Portuguese, sailed for Spain Led first voyage to circumnavigate (sail all the way around) the world. He did not survive to the end of the voyage. Motivation: To find a western route to the Moluccas (Indies); to gain wealth by trade Kidnapped two from east coast of S. America; tried to convince natives in the Philippines islands to convert to Christianity; some refused Magellan was killed in battle between indigenous groups in the Philippine Islands; only one of the original 5 ships in his fleet completed the journey; only 18 of 200 men survived
Ferdinand Magellan Strait
Hernan Cortez (Cortes) 1485-1547 Spain Explored Mexico and Central America, conquered the Aztecs To explore; to conquer the Aztecs; to find gold Conquered and wiped out the Aztecs Cortez was well educated; related to Pizarro; missed first opportunity to travel to New World when he broke his leg running across rooftops to meet a woman; took Native American, Dona Marina, as mistress and interpreter; conquered Aztecs by finding Allies among people the Aztecs had conquered
Hernan Cortez (Cortes)
Francisco Pizarro 1475-1541 Spain Explored Peru, South America, Conquered the Incas Pizarro sought adventure and wealth Held Inca emperor, Atahualpa for ransom, then murdered him; destroyed Inca empire Illiterate; Served with Balboa when he became the first European to discover the Pacific Ocean; collected gold and silver items from all over Inca empire and melted them down; killed in battle with other Spanish who wanted to control Cuzco
Francisco Pizarro
Jacques Cartier 1491-1557 France Explored St. Lawrence River to Montreal Motivation: Looking for a Northwest Passage Kidnapped individuals to serve as interpreters. Several died. Some friendly relationships with Native Americans, but some suspicion and fear on both sides as well. He named every place he found after Catholic saints to show his devotion to the Church.
Jacques Cartier
Sir Francis Drake 1540-1596 Britain Led the second voyage to circumnavigate (sail all the way around) the world. Helped defeat the Spanish Armada; Claimed west coast of N. America for Britain Motivation: To defeat the Spanish Allowed British and later Americans to claim land from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast Devout Protestant, hated the Spanish passionately. Attacked Spanish ships and stole their treasure, making him a pirate; honored by Queen Elizabeth
Sir Francis Drake
Henry Hudson 1575-1611 British/Sailed for Dutch Explored Hudson Bay, Hudson River and east coast of North America as far south as Chesapeake Bay Searched for both Northeast and Northwest Passage to Asia Little interaction with Indigenous Americans Crew mutinied in Hudson Bay; left Hudson, his young son, and seven loyal sailors marooned in Hudson Bay never heard from again
Henry Hudson
The astrolabe was an instrument used to determine a ship s latitude at sea and its position in relation to land. Astrolabe
Sextant
Scurvy was a disease that plagued sailors. Its cause was a lack of vitamin C. It could be fatal, but was easily treated by eating fresh fruits. Scurvy
Columbian Exchange The Columbian Exchange was the introduction of plants, animals, products, and diseases in both the America and the Old World as a result of Columbus discovery of America.
Treaty of Tordesillas -Signed in 1494, -Negotiated by Pope Alexander VI -Divided newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal -Spain got lands west of Line of Demarcation; Portugal got lands to the east
Northwest Passage The Northwest Passage is a northern sea route around N. America to Asia. Many European explorers sought to discover it, but no one was successful until Roald Amundsen did it in 1903-06. Climate change has made the passage more navigable in recent years.