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High School History Notes

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34 views4 pages

High School History Notes

Uploaded by

Craig Conway
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© © All Rights Reserved
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High School History Notes

Chapter: The Age of Exploration and Colonization

Introduction:

●​ The Age of Exploration refers to the period from the 15th to the 17th century when
European nations explored and established overseas empires.
●​ This era dramatically changed global trade, culture, and political dynamics.

Key Motivations for Exploration:

1.​ Economic Factors:​

○​ European nations sought new trade routes to acquire valuable goods such
as spices, silk, and gold, especially after the fall of Constantinople (1453),
which disrupted traditional trade routes.
○​ The desire for wealth and new markets fueled the need to expand into
Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
2.​ Religious Factors:​

○​ Christianity spread through European missions. Many explorers sought to


spread their faith to new lands, often alongside their search for wealth.
○​ The Protestant Reformation (1517) also contributed to religious
competition, with countries like Spain and Portugal aiming to expand
Catholic influence.
3.​ Political Factors:​

○​ Nationalism was rising in Europe, with monarchs wanting to increase their


power by acquiring new territories.
○​ Countries competed to establish colonies and claim land for glory and
prestige.
4.​ Technological Advances:​

○​ Innovations like the compass, astrolabe, improved maps, and more durable
ships (e.g., caravels) made longer voyages possible.
○​ New navigation techniques allowed for more precise exploration of
previously unknown territories.

Key Explorers and Their Contributions:

1.​ Christopher Columbus (1492):​


○​ Columbus, an Italian navigator sponsored by Spain, famously "discovered"
the New World, landing in the Caribbean while searching for a westward
route to Asia.
○​ His voyages opened the Americas to European exploration and
colonization.
2.​ Vasco da Gama (1498):​

○​ A Portuguese explorer who reached India by sailing around the southern


tip of Africa, opening a sea route to Asia for trade.
○​ This was crucial for Portugal’s dominance in the spice trade.
3.​ Ferdinand Magellan (1519–1522):​

○​ A Portuguese explorer leading the first expedition to circumnavigate the


globe, though he was killed in the Philippines.
○​ His journey demonstrated the vastness of the Earth and the potential for
global navigation.
4.​ John Cabot (1497):​

○​ An Italian explorer sailing under English sponsorship, Cabot is credited


with the discovery of parts of North America, particularly the coast of
Canada.

Colonial Empires:

●​ Spanish Empire:​

○​ Spain was the first European nation to establish a vast overseas empire,
focusing on the Americas.
○​ Conquistadors such as Hernán Cortés (who defeated the Aztec Empire) and
Francisco Pizarro (who conquered the Inca Empire) expanded Spain’s
influence.
○​ Spain also claimed large territories in the Caribbean and South America.
●​ Portuguese Empire:​

○​ Portugal focused on maritime exploration, establishing trading posts along


the coasts of Africa, India, and China.
○​ They controlled the spice trade and dominated early navigation routes to
Asia.
●​ French Empire:​

○​ France established colonies in the Americas, particularly in Canada and


along the Mississippi River.
○​ French explorers like Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain explored
parts of North America, focusing on trade, particularly fur.
●​ English Empire:​

○​ The English established colonies on the eastern coast of North America,


beginning with Jamestown (1607).
○​ English exploration was also driven by the search for trade routes and new
territories.

Impact of Exploration:

1.​ Cultural Exchange:​

○​ The Age of Exploration led to the Columbian Exchange, where plants,


animals, food, diseases, and ideas were exchanged between the Old World
(Europe, Asia, Africa) and the New World (Americas).
○​ Crops such as potatoes, corn, and tomatoes were introduced to Europe,
while wheat, sugar, and livestock were brought to the Americas.
2.​ Colonialism and Exploitation:​

○​ European nations established colonies in the Americas, Africa, and Asia,


exploiting local resources and peoples.
○​ Indigenous populations suffered from violence, disease, and forced labor,
leading to significant demographic changes.
3.​ Slave Trade:​

○​ The demand for labor in the Americas, particularly on sugar plantations, led
to the transatlantic slave trade.
○​ Millions of Africans were forcibly taken from their homeland and
transported to the Americas, where they were subjected to brutal
conditions.
4.​ Global Trade Networks:​

○​ Exploration led to the establishment of global trade routes. The Atlantic


Triangle Trade connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, exchanging
goods such as sugar, tobacco, gold, and slaves.
○​ The Spanish silver fleet helped fuel the European economy, especially
Spain, by bringing vast amounts of gold and silver from the Americas.
5.​ Decline of Indigenous Empires:​

○​ The arrival of European explorers and settlers led to the decline of powerful
indigenous civilizations in the Americas, such as the Aztecs, Incas, and
Mayans.
○​ European diseases, such as smallpox, decimated native populations,
weakening their ability to resist colonization.

Conclusion:
●​ The Age of Exploration had profound consequences on global history. It created
new economic systems, transformed cultures, and established European
dominance over vast areas of the world.
●​ However, this period also led to the exploitation of indigenous peoples, the rise of
the transatlantic slave trade, and long-lasting social and political changes that
shaped modern global society.
●​

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