Exploration and Technology Chapter 3, Lesson 1. Lesson Objectives Explain the reasons for European exploration. Explain the technology that made ocean.

Exploration and Technology

Chapter 3, Lesson 1

Lesson Objectives

Explain the reasons for European exploration. Explain the technology that made ocean

exploration possible.

Vocabulary

• Technology• Navigation• Expedition• Empire• Entrepreneur• Cost• Benefit• Reconquista

A Rush of New Ideas• In the 1400’s, a new age of learning, science, and art

began in Europe called the Renaissance.• The Renaissance, which means “rebirth”, began in

Italy and spread across Europe.• Johannes Gutenberg helped spread these new ideas

by developing the printing press in the 1450s.• The Travels of Marco Polo became a popular book

which told of great inventions, silk, and spices that could be found in China.

• Sailors and scientists began to work to find a way to travel to China by sea.

Gutenberg Press

Marco Polo1254-1324

The World Awaits• In 1418, Prince Henry of Portugal opened

a school of navigation.• The aim of the school was to make better

ships, maps, and tools for navigation.• The magnetic compass was a tool sailors

used to find direction.• The astrolabe was a tool that helped

sailors find their latitude –their distance north or south of the equator.

Prince Henry the Navigator and His Students

Magnetic Compass

Astrolabe

Caravel

The World Awaits(continued)

• Europeans knew of Asia because of Marco Polo’s book and because of trade.

• Traders had been using an ancient land route between China and Italy called the Silk Road for many years.

The Silk Road

The World Awaits(continued)

• Europeans also traded with North Africa.• North African cities such as

Timbuktu, and Jenne’ were centers of wealthy empires.

The World Awaits(continued)

• Europeans generally did not know there were other continents beyond Europe, Asia, and Africa.• The Vikings had sailed as far as Canada

in the year A.D.1000, but had not realized Canada was part of an entire new continent.

The Business of Exploring• Explorers ran their explorations as

businesses. • They had to be entrepreneurs to generate

the money it cost to run the expedition.• Explorers had to persuade investors to give

them the money for the expedition.• The investor would expect to benefit from

their investment through the riches the explorer found.

The Business of Exploring(continued)

• Christopher Columbus believed he could reach the Indies by sailing west.

• Columbus first asked the King of Portugal to finance his voyage, but was turned down.

• Then in 1485 Columbus asked the king and queen of Spain, Isabella and Ferdinand, and was again turned down.

The Business of Exploring(continued)

• Finally, in 1492, after Spain had finished the Reconquista, Isabella and Ferdinand agreed to pay for Columbus’s voyage.

Two Worlds Meet• On August 3, 1492, Columbus and a crew of

nearly 90 sailed from Spain on three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

• The voyage was long and frightening. The crew was losing hope.

• On October 12, land was finally spotted.

Two Worlds Meet(continued)

• When Columbus and his crew went ashore, they called the native people they met Indians, since he thought he was in the Indies.

• Columbus did not know he had discovered an entire new continent!

• When Columbus and his men returned back to Europe, they were treated like heroes.

Two Worlds Meet(continued)

• The king and queen of Spain were pleased and paid for more voyages.• Columbus was expected to find more

riches, start settlements, and convert people he met to the Catholic religion.