Rival Empires in the Age of Exploration

• Maritime Empires


  Empires established by European states across the world
• The establishment of Maritime Empires led to tension between European states
• Portugal


  • First mover in establishing Maritime Empires
  • Jammed right in Spain's bootiest Maximus, had trouble conducting trade with other European states without Spain interfering
  • Chief desire was to gain access to the lucrative spice trade in the Indian Ocean
  • Established a trade post Empire - trading ports throughout the Indian Ocean region rather than taking over whole portions of land
• Spain


  • Commissioned Christopher Columbus to sail west across the Atlantic to gain access to the Indian Ocean trade
  • Claimed much of the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and the coastline of South America
  • Conquistadors were able to topple large indigenous empires due to the introduction of European diseases like smallpox and measles
• France


  • Claimed large parts of North America and Canada
  • Mainly interested in trade, did not establish many colonies with settlers
  • Forged alliances with indigenous groups like the Huron Confederacy and participated in the fur trade
• England


  • Established settler colonies along the Atlantic coast of North America and in the Caribbean
  • Established colonies to compete economically with other European states, including through the tobacco trade
• Netherlands


  • Established colonies in North America but mainly focused on competing with the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean trade
• Tensions arising between European states

  Eventually erupted into wars like the War of Spanish Succession and the Seven Years' War
• Papal Bull of 1481


  Granted all islands south of the Canary Islands to Portugal
• Columbus claimed islands in the Caribbean for Spain


  Caused tension with Portugal who claimed the islands belonged to them based on the Papal Bull
• Resolution of tension between Portugal and Spain

  1. Spain appealed to Pope Alexander VI

  2. Treaty of Tordesillas drew a line of demarcation granting Spain land to the East and Portugal land to the West
• Portugal and Spain did not pay too much attention to the line of demarcation as they built their overseas Empires
• Maritime Empires


  Powerful naval empires established by European states during the Age of Exploration (15th-17th centuries), including the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and British empires.
• Establishment of Maritime Empires

  Involved exploration, colonization, and trade in various parts of the world, leading to competition for resources, territorial disputes, religious differences, and economic rivalry between European states.
• Competition for resources


  European states competed for access to valuable resources such as gold, silver, spices, and textiles, leading to tension and conflict.
• Economic rivalry


  European states sought to dominate trade and commerce, leading to economic rivalry and competition between European states.
• Gold and silver


  Highly valued for their use in currency and as symbols of wealth and power, European states competed for access to these precious metals during the Age of Exploration.
• Spices


  Valuable for their use in cooking and medicine, European states sought to control the production and trade of spices such as pepper, cinnamon, and cloves during the Age of Exploration.
• Textiles


  Valuable for their use in clothing and other household goods, European states sought to control the production and trade of textiles such as silk, cotton, and wool during the Age of Exploration.
• Natural resources


  European states also competed for access to natural resources such as timber, fish, and minerals, which were essential for shipbuilding, naval warfare, and industrialization during the Age of Exploration.