European Age of Exploration

Definition

The European Age of Exploration was a period from the late 15th century to the early 17th century during which European powers expanded their influence globally through maritime exploration and conquest. This era was marked by the search for new trade routes, the desire for wealth, and the spread of Christianity, leading to significant encounters between different cultures and the establishment of colonial empires.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Age of Exploration was driven by European desires for new trade routes to Asia, particularly for spices and luxury goods.
2. Technological advancements such as the compass, astrolabe, and improved ship designs (like caravels) greatly facilitated long-distance maritime travel.
3. Major explorers like Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan played key roles in expanding European knowledge of the world and establishing overseas empires.
4. The period also led to significant cultural exchanges but often resulted in the exploitation and oppression of indigenous populations.
5. European colonization efforts resulted in vast territorial claims and established trade networks that transformed global economies.

Review Questions

• How did advancements in technology influence the European Age of Exploration?
  • Advancements in technology such as the compass, astrolabe, and improved ship designs allowed European navigators to sail further than ever before. These innovations made it possible to navigate open oceans with greater accuracy and confidence. As a result, explorers could embark on longer voyages to unknown territories, leading to significant discoveries and expansions of trade routes.
• In what ways did the Treaty of Tordesillas impact European colonial ambitions?
  • The Treaty of Tordesillas effectively divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal, legitimizing their colonial claims. This agreement helped to minimize conflict between these two major powers during a time when both were eager to expand their empires. However, it also excluded other European nations from claiming territories in Africa and the Americas, leading to tensions as countries like France and England later sought their own colonial expansions.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the European Age of Exploration on global trade patterns and indigenous societies.
  • The European Age of Exploration had profound long-term effects on global trade patterns by establishing extensive trade networks that connected Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. These networks facilitated not only the exchange of goods but also cultural exchanges that reshaped societies. However, this era also led to devastating impacts on indigenous populations through colonization, exploitation, and disease. The disruption of local economies and cultures had lasting consequences that can still be seen today.

Related terms

Columbian Exchange:

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.

Mercantilism:

An economic theory that emphasizes the importance of accumulating wealth through trade, with government regulation of the economy to augment state power at the expense of rival national powers.

Treaty of Tordesillas:

A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two countries along a meridian in the Atlantic Ocean.