Causes of european expansion

What allowed / caused Europeans to begin their exploration, expand their trade involvement, and their conquest?

CAUSES of EUROPEAN MARITIME VOYAGES

In Europe…

• Demographic recovery after the plague

• Crusading Spirit

• Fragmented state-building led to competition

• Portuguese began exploring in 1415

• Columbus reached the Americas in 1492

• Vasco de Gama sailed around Africa to India 1497-98

CAUSES of EUROPEAN MARITIME VOYAGES

Improvements in technology• Better ship design (caravel)

• The Gunpowder revolution

• Navigation –compass, sextant, astrolabe, maps.

Training and Experience

• Portuguese Seafaring Schools

• Experience in wars with Muslims

DESIRE FOR PROFIT

• FIND & Control trade routes to Asia

• Find GOLD & SILVER (for wealth in Europe and to trade in Asia)

Religious Reasons. . .The desire to:

• spread Christian religion and political control

• Defeat Islamic forces

In East Asia . . .

China and Japan

continued to

control their

own ports,

products, and

profits with little

gains made by

Europeans.

Europe compared with China• European voyages small compared to

China

• Europeans seeking wealth, converts, and national pride

• Europeans used violence to gain empires

• Chinese voyages ended, Europeans kept escalating-WHY?

– Internal competition in Europe

– Need for more land

– No single political authority

– Support of European elites