THE

EUROPEANS
FOURTH FORM
September 20 – September 24,
2021
CARIBBEAN HISTORY

Title: Motivating factors that led to Columbus’

voyages;
Gold, God, Glory
 OBJECTIVES:

1. Outline major aspects of European society in the late 15th Century

(trade technology, religion forms of government and social relations.
2. Highlight factors that motivated Europeans to explore and settle in the
Caribbean e.g. wind currents and ocean systems
3. Examine the factors God, Gold and Glory as motivating factors for
voyages of exploration
 T WO CONCEPT S
• OLD WORLD
• NEW WORLD
• What do you understand from those two
terms?
• Place your response in AnswerGarden
link below
• https://answergarden.ch/2106877
 In the West, the term Old World is used to refer to Asia, Africa,
and Europe. Generally, Old World refers to a part of the world
that was known to its citizens before it came into contact with
the Americans. On the other hand, the New World refers to the
Americas and it is inclusive of North America, South America,
and Central America. The Old World contrasts with the New
NEW World. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-does-old-
world-and-new-world-refer-to.html
WORLD
AND OLD
WORLD
Note that the contact between these two worlds has
changed the course of History in both positive and
negative ways. DISCUSS
 BACKGROUND
• The Columbus project to reach the
Caribbean was long in the making.
The idea was to reach Asia by
penetrating deep in the West
Atlantic. A route to Asia in search of
spices, gold, perfume textiles and
other expensive goods was the main
maritime focus of the 15th Century.
However, Columbus ended up lost
in the Caribbean and what was to
come later was a space where
Europeans began a massive colonial
and imperial exploitative enterprise.
 Technology

EUROPEAN Trade
SOCIET Y
IN THE Religion
15 TH
CENTURY
Forms of Government

Social Relations
 EUROPEAN
TECHNOLOGY
• The European intelligence and
imaginations was awakened with new
developments in science and technology.
• E.g. the compass, astrolabe, caravel, power
of gunpowder, and map making.
• By the 15th century, the scientific
breakthrough was changing European
maritime culture. Europeans eagerly
learnt about the compass and saw
potential in using gunpowder to make
weapons.
MARITIME ADVANCEMENT S
 The astrolabe allowed sailors to measure latitude by measuring the
height of the sun at noon. This helped sailors to calculate their
location.

The new ships, the caravel were longer, leaner and faster they use two
or more sails and were easily manoeuvered in different wind
conditions.
E U RO P E A N
TECHNOLOGY Map making skills were also revolutionsed. Sailors restudied the work
of Ptolemy a 2nd century Greek scientist/ geographer who showed
the world was round. The copies of Ptolemy’s work spread across
Europe with the invention of printing information could be copied and
passed on in the form of maps, charts and books.

The use of gunpowder which was invented by the Chinese. The early
use of guns was by the Arabs. Europeans use the gunpowder in the
making of their guns and later included it in the cannons which were
carried on the caravels. The conquest of foreign land and the
subjugation of their people was easier with these advances.
 THE
AS TROLABE
• The astrolabe is a very
ancient astronomical
computer for solving
problems relating to
time and the position of
the Sun and stars in the
sky. It allowed the
sailors to measure the
latitude by measuring
the height of the sun at
noon.
THE CARAVEL
• The Caravel was a highly
maneuverable ship with
two or three masts used
by the Spanish and the
Portuguese in the 15th
C. The Caravel was able
to sail close to the wind,
something which was
essential if the voyages
were to be successful in
regions where wind
patterns were unknown.
 Further viewing
How Did the Caravel Change the
SHIPBUILDING DESIGN World?
https://youtu.be/Xeyjc4mnMQQ
• Development of ships which could withstand the rigors of
the Atlantic Ocean for example the caravel was equipped
with triangular sails that could be turned to catch wind
from any direction
• improved material for sales
• Galleons equipped with canon, gunpowder and iron balls
would provide protection on a long voyage with unknown
hazards
• Carvel planking improve the seaworthiness of the vessels
• Sternpost rudder making vessel more maneuverable an
asset in the church's waters of the Atlantic
Carvel planking explained
 THE
QUADRANT
The quadrant is one of
the earliest and simplest
of measuring
instruments for
astronomy, navigation,
and surveying. It
allowed sailors to check
their position.
THE COMPASS
The compass is a
navigational instrument
for finding directions on
the earth. The ship’s
course was steered by
means of a magnetic
compass. The improved
magnetic compasses
further improved
navigation
 The Portuguese were the most
developed merchant and trading class in
Europe. They knew the European
coastline well because their trading in
spices, gold, fish and other goods led to
the growth of many coastal towns.
TRADE

The Portuguese began their crusade

against Islam by attacking Muslim trade
routes and bases along the Atlantic.
 N.B. many European traders made
their biggest profits on goods they
bought from Arab merchants in the
towns on the south and east shores
of the Mediterranean.
TRADE
CONTINUED
Look at map on page 18. Caribbean
Story. You will notice that many of
these lands were held by Muslims so
they could therefore trade easily
across these routes.
 In addition to trading with Africa, Europeans also traded
with the East, (Japan, China, and India). Europeans had
already established a colonial settlement in the East
Atlantic: the Canaries, the Azores and Madeira. These
islands would be the starting point for the journey to the
East. The Europeans had everything, maritime technology,
scientific knowledge. The east with all its trade, wealth and
riches attracted them.
TRADE
CONTINUED
N.B. Europeans had made the journey to the East from as
early as 1241. The first John of Plano Carpini a Franciscan
monk, then William de Rubuquis in 1253 also a Franciscan
and later Marco Polo between 1274- 1295. The route
Marco Polo took along the Atlantic Coast of Africa was
what later interested Europeans and Christopher
Columbus.
 European society was in demand for Asian goods, their
culture was changing due to the availability of Asian goods.
Their diet was enhanced with new spices such as nutmeg
and ginger as well as sugar to sweeten their tea and
coffee, Their dress was also changed with the desire for
Eastern textiles to make dresses and cloaks. European
taste increased for gold, perfumes, ivory etc.
TRADE
CONTINUED However, this would change with the new developments
in technology. Europe was experiencing many changes
during the Renaissance; a period of new learning and new
inventions. This same period gave opportunities to people
like Prince Henry ‘the navigator’ to develop techniques to
make navigation and exploration possible. Johann
Gutenburg (1450) also developed the Printing press which
made copying of books possible.
 RELIGION
• The Catholic Church with
the Pope as is head was the
dominant church in Spain.
The church was both
powerful and wealthy with
large landownership.
• By the 15th C. Muslims had
conquered and settled in
areas which were Christian
homelands.
• The Spanish faced the
constant struggle of trying to
drive the Muslims and their
followers out of Europe and
spread
RELIGION CONTINUED

• Christianity throughout the world.

• In the early 15th C, the African Muslims
(Moors) had conquered the Spanish
Kingdom of Granada.
• The Spanish led many crusades against
the Muslims to retake Holy lands
captured by the Muslim forces.
• The reconquest was completed in 1492
when the Spanish forces reclaimed
Granada
 • NB. The crusades that were fought were against
Muslim culture and religion.
• The desire to drive the Muslims out of Europe was
a strong as the desire for slaves, gold, silver , spices,
textiles and other commodities.
• Trade, religion and power could not be separated.
RELIGION • Remember that Islam stood in the way of the
Spanish to trade with the east and Spread
CONTINUED Christianity.
• The idea of Christianizing non-Christians did play a
role in trade. Europeans demanded these Asian
goods and at the same time saw an opportunity
where they could spread Christianity.
 EUROPEAN FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT

• Europe during the 15th Century was mainly

ruled by monarchies. People in Europe saw
themselves as belonging to their own country
rather than being Europeans. The populations
had been spread out across thirty sovereign
states with the most powerful being, Portugal,
Spain, France and England. There was some
system of Representative government and there
were some Parliaments.
 EUROPEAN FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT

• Spain had become powerful in Europe. The

marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand
of Argon had united both kingdoms to become
Spain. This marriage made Spain very
powerful and strong European country because
it was one of the few United areas under one
leader. NB. Isabella later granted permission to
Columbus to go on his voyages.
 EUROPEAN SOCIAL
RELATIONS
• European society was based on
hierarchies meaning that someone was
always superior or inferior to another.
Society was based upon serfs and lords,
kingdoms to the pope and men to women
etc.
• Women were considered weak and
inferior to men.
• Many persons remained illiterate
(remember they still believed that the
Earth was flat)
 EUROPEAN SOCIAL
RELATIONS
• Even though printing had been invented
books could only be afforded by the rich
and those who were literate.
• The oceans were seen as barriers and
unnavigable. (this would eventually change
with maritime and navigation inventions)
• The educated minority were all clerics or
pupils of clerics. Some of these began to
exercise power on behalf of the ruler.
E U RO P E A N S O C I A L
R E L AT I O N S
• Punishments for crimes were
atrocious and even barbaric
and were used to set an
example.
• Remember people from each
European state saw themselves
as from their own country
rather than a European. For
example, an English man saw
himself as an Englishman
rather than an European.
 LET'S
SUM IT
ALL UP
 W H AT W E R E
THE
M O T I VAT I N G • Watch the following video; The age of exploration
FAC T O R S F O R and discuss https://youtu.be/UarGCh_0WAg
VOYAG E S O F
E X P L O R AT I O N • How was the meeting of old world and new world
disastrous
• What were the main motivating factors that
encouraged voyages of exploration?
 THE 3 G’S
• God
• Gold
• Glory
 VIEW THE PREZI LINK
FOR EXPLANATION
• https://prezi.com/riuzs3yhyc2z/gold-god-
glory-reasons-for-exploration/
• What are the key points that stood out
about the 3Gs?
 GOLD
Any material wealth which might be found
in these lands. Gold was scarce in Europe
and in Spain especially. Spain has used all
her resources in war and needed a new
precious metal.
Columbus expected that any wealth gained
would be divided between himself and the
monarchs
Personal gains for others was also a factor.
The tales of riches to be obtained attracted
other willing crewmembers.
 GOD
• To partner with the
monarchs and zeal for
converting inhabitants of
any newly acquired lands
to Catholicism
(Christianity)
• To please God and the
Pope
 GLORY
• Desire to make a name for himself (Columbus)
and bring glory to Spain
• With success Columbus would join the list of
explorers and establish Spain as a rival to
Portugal in exploration. He would also be
awarded with the title of viceroy of the new
lands
MOTIVES FOR COLUMBUS’
VOYAGES
 • Find a new and shorter route to Asia by sea. The
old land route was long, hazardous expensive. The
sea route would shorten the distance and cut out
the middlemen and pirates who stalked the old
routes.
MOTIVES • To plunder the wealth of Asia-popular accounts of
Asia told of the wealth of the area
FOR • To trade a new route would increase the volume of
COLUMBUS trade, reduce costs and enhance profits
Conversion of natives
VOYAGES •

• To spread the Christian faith (Roman Catholicism)

• Establishment of a trading colony
• Exploring for Gold
 MOTIVES FOR
COLUMBUS’ VOYAGES
• The outcome of Spain and Portugal’s
Atlantic colonizing efforts and African
expeditions.
• European rivalry underscored the need for
Spain to keep up with the strides Portugal
made around Africa in order to establish
Spanish pre-eminence
• Columbus was looking for the world of
Marco Polo described in the accounts of his
travels to China.
• He hoped to get to the East by sailing
westwards
• Scientific and technological improvements
• The belief that furthermore profitable
discoveries were to be had
 They gained increased
They encountered a range of
geographical knowledge of the
plants and animals and
region and acquired more
knowledge of their uses which
precise information on latitude,
led to studies in zoology and
ocean currents and
botany of the region
cartography.

BENEFIT S
The benefitted from the food
EUROPEANS of the indigenous people which
GAINED FROM was new to them such as
cassava, potato and maize
They learned about medicinal
cures and remedies from the
THE VOYAGES which widen the European diet.
The potato became a European
indigenous peoples.

OF staple crop.
EXPLORATION
Had access to the services of
indigenous peoples such as
guides and seamen, who were
important tot their
exploration.
 Spain was able to establish
control over a large empire and New business
became a powerful nation as a opportunities stimulated
result Access to untold mineral
world provided the opportunities through trade in the new
for many to become extremely world
BENEFITS wealthy
E U RO P E A N S
G A I N E D F RO M
T H E VOY AG E S The need for trade and
OF The empire divided means for communication in the region
development in Europe and Spain stimulated European naval expansion.
E X P L O R AT I O N in particular. This was reflected in Spain built an Armada and organize a
convoy to handle its carriage trade.
the fine new buildings that were Other European countries followed
constructed such as libraries and suit and paid more attention to
museums and support for the shipbuilding the new world empire
arts that occurred in the period provided an outlet for immigration of
European excess populations
 • they were not familiar with the geography
and physical conditions of the terrain
• the encounter trade winds and
hurricanes
P RO B L E M S
ENCOUNTERED • they encountered hostile reactions from
BY T H E the indigenous people
S PA N I S H O N
T H E VOY AG E S • they were engaged in long drawn out
OF battles with the indigenous peoples
E X P L O R AT I O N
• defeat surprise attacks from indigenous
peoples
• they always had to be prepared for war
 • they were outnumbered by the
indigenous peoples
• they had to depend on indigenous
sleepers who they could not always trust,
as guides for their activities there were
language difficulties
P RO B L E M S
ENCOUNTERED • they encountered new diseases they lived
BY T H E under difficult conditions
S PA N I S H O N • supplies were always short
T H E VOY AG E S • be dependent on the indigenous peoples
OF for food
E X P L O R AT I O N
• they had to engage in constant
negotiation with different groups of
indigenous peoples
 SUMMARY/
ASSESSMENT
• God, Gold or Glory,
Which factor was the
biggest factor that
stimulated European
voyages of exploration?
• Use the link to the
Zoom poll to answer the
question above?
• What is your reason for
selecting your answer?