Age of exploration

• Caravel ship

  
• • Lateen sails- triangular shaped sails that allowed the ship sail into the wind.
  • Castle - at the back of the deck used as an area of defence for attack.
  • clinker built hull - overlapping planks of wood. Where’s as carvel built hulls were planks of wood placed edge to edge (faster ship)
• • A quadrant and an astrolabe helped determine a ship's latitude (distance from the equator) by using the position of the stars and the sun.
  • A compass was used to identify north,
  • To measure the depth of water, especially around a coast, a line and lead weight.
  • A log and line measured a ship's speed in knots.( how many knots passed through the sailor hand) Cartographer- studied a map

  
• Christopher Columbus‘s first voyage to the New World occured in 1492, after he got the approval from King Ferdinand and queen Isabella of Spain. Who sponsored the voyage by giving him three ships Nina Pinta and Santa Maria in exchange for what Columbus was going to bring back. On August 3 1492 Columbus embarked on a voyage to find a new trade to India for spices and goods from Palos Spain.After 69 days at sea,Land was sighted,he believed that it was India and he named the Land San Salvador and it’s inhabitants Indians.
• However he discovered the Bahamas and not India. Upon his return in 1493, he was celebrated as a hero. He gifted a king and queen slaves,exotic fruit maize,parrots and some gold And he was appointed governor of this new territory. As they believe that he found a sea route to Asia.
• As a result of the New World cultures were destroyed as native languages were wiped,as Spanish and Portuguese became the language of the natives as well.It impacted European states as they saw that Spain’s wealth was increasing for example Portugal colonise the east coast of South America.
• This voyage negatively impacted people in the new world as the indigenous population went into decline as indigenous people were enslaved to attract wealth from forced Labour.The voyage also impacted Europe as a lead to the Columbian exchange. This exchange involves trading food and animals between Europe and America.It led to export goods like coffee reaching Europe.
• • The captain had a cabin, while the crew slept on deck or in hammocks.
  • Sailing and maintaining the ship was hard work, with tensions between wealthy captains and poor sailors.
  • Mutiny(rebelling against captain) was a threat, so harsh discipline like flogging and execution was common.
  • Food was preserved by drying or salting, leading to diseases like typhoid and scurvy due to lack of fresh water and vitamins.

  Sailors feared shipwrecks and "sea monsters."
• • Prince Henry the Navigator set up a school of navigation at Sagres.
  • Portuguese explorers aimed to find a way around Africa to Asia, setting up trading bases along the African coast.
  • Bartolomeu Dias rounded the southern tip of Africa (Cape of Good Hope) in 1487.

  Vasco da Gama reached India by sailing around Africa in 1497, proving the route was viable.
• Reasons for the Age of Exploration

  • The Renaissance encouraged learning about the world.
  • Marco Polo's travels described wealth in China, inspiring exploration.
  • Merchants sought new trade routes for silks and spices.
  • The fall of Constantinople in 1453 cut off the Great Silk Road, necessitating new routes.
  • European rulers desired new lands and empires.
  • The Pope encouraged spreading Christianity as Islam grew more powerful.
• • Bartolomeu Dias rounded the southern tip of Africa (Cape of Good Hope) in 1487.
  • Vasco da Gama reached India by sailing around Africa in 1497, proving the route was viable.
• Impact of Colonisation

  • Colonisation had a major impact on both the colonised and the colonisers.
  • Indigenous populations in South America were decimated by violence and diseases like measles, influenza, and smallpox.
  • Indigenous cultures and languages were destroyed, with Spanish and Portuguese becoming dominant.
  • The Catholic Church, especially the Jesuits, converted indigenous peoples to Christianity.
  • The slave trade grew, with millions of Africans transported to the Americas to work on plantations, creating the Atlantic Slave Triangle.
• Impact on Europe

  • The Age of Exploration led to the Age of Imperialism, with European states creating empires.
  • The British Empire colonised around 25% of the world's land.
  • New Empires led to conflicts; the Treaty of Tordesillas divided the New World between Spain and Portugal. (Spain West and Portugal East)
  • The Columbian Exchange introduced new foods, animals, and technology between Europe and the Americas.