2. Let’s look at how the Age of Exploration began. In order to understand how important exploration was to the world, we need to go back to a time when exploration was of little importance---- The Middle Ages
3. During the Middle Ages (500-1350), people struggled to survive. There was constant threat from outside invaders. Food was scarce. Disease was rampant.
4. There was little leisure time to be interested in the outside world, much less time to explore it. Eventually, a system developed that helped to bring stability and peace to Europe.
5. Feudalism Feudalism was a system of loyalty and protection in the Middle Ages. King Lords Knights Serfs
6. In order to maintain power, the King was loyal to even the serfs, for they provided food. Everyone was loyal to the king because he provided a place to live and knights for protection.
7. King Lords Knights Serfs Feudal Society Feudalism worked from... top to bottom bottom to top and
8. In 1095 Pope Urban II called on all Christians to leave their homes and defend their faith by joining the Crusades.
9. The Crusades The Crusades were a series of wars fought between Christians and Muslims from the 1090s-1270s over control of the Holy Land. The Middle East The Holy Land
10. The Crusades were important because... Europeans ventured to Asia for the first time. Asia
11. Effects of the Crusades Europeans were introduced to new foods and products, such as spices and silks There was a renewed interest in trade.
12. People came into contact with others outside of their feudal manors. Ideas and learning became more widespread.
28. This credited discovery of the New World occurred during the Renaissance . However, the New World was discovered even before the Age of Exploration. There were actually three important discoveries of America.
29. First Discovery of America Native Americans migrated across the Bering Strait on a land bridge from Asia, maybe as early as 70,000 years ago.
30. Leif Ericsson and the Vikings landed in far North America in about 1,000 A.D. Second Discovery of America
31. In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the New World. Columbus thought he was in India, but actually he had reached the New World. He did not set foot on North America, but his discovery ushered in the Age of Exploration. Third Discovery of America
33. Prince Henry the Navigator- Portugal Prince Henry never explored, but he was instrumental in promoting exploration by: financing many voyages for Portugal. starting a school for navigation at Sagres that initiated many advancements in sailing .
34. Amerigo Vespucci- Italy Amerigo followed Columbus’s route to the New World. He wrote to a friend that he had indeed discovered a new continent. From the name “Amerigo” we get…
35. The Conquistadors- Spain The conquistadors were the Spanish conquerors who were looking for the “Three G’s” ... gold God glory Two of the most famous were: Hernan Cortes who conquered the Aztecs in Mexico. Francisco Pizarro who conquered the Incas in Peru.
36. Sir Frances Drake- England Drake was a famous English “Sea Dog” who raided ships of the Spanish Armada. Eventually, he helped defeat the Armada. Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world.