Age of Exploration1400s to 1700s

Motives

Search for new trade routes wanted to find a quicker way to AsiaDesire for new products Crusades and travels of Marco Polo stimulated an interest in Asian goodsTechnology improved that allowed overseas exploration; gunpowder allowed Europeans to dominateReligion Christian rulers wanted to spread religion

Effects

Native American civilizations destroyedEuropean diseases killed millions of Native AmericansEuropean powers built extensive overseas empiresLarge numbers of Europeans moved to AmericasNative American crops (corn, potato, tomato) brought to Europe [Colombian Exchange]

Demand for African slaves increasedCapitalism expanded with growth of tradeCultural exchanges occurred [cultural diffusion]

Christopher Columbus

Accidentally found America while looking for a westward route to Asia

His voyages considered a turning point in history

Vasco da Gama

Discovered an all-water route from Europe to India

Ferdinand Magellan

First person credited with circumnavigating the world

Hernando Cortes

Conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico in 1519

Francisco Pizarro

Conquered the Inca Empire in Peru in 1833

Marco Polo

Traveled to China [court of Kublai Khan] and brought back stories and goods to Europe

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade1500s to 1800s

Causes

Europeans wanted cheap labor for work in the Americas

Due to the demands of the agricultural economies of the New World

The native peoples of America did not survive the labor

Effects

Encouraged African warfare tribes went to war with other tribes to obtain slaves to trade for guns

Disrupted African culture it created a legacy of violence, bitterness and social upheaval

Increased cultural diffusionSlaves brought their songs and culture to New World

Prejudice against Africans

Imperialism

Domination by one country over the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region

CausesEconomic Social Political

Need for raw materials created by Industrial Revolution

Desire for place to invest excess capital

Drive to spread Christianity [White Man’s Burden]

Rule by strongest and fittest- need to spread superior culture [Social Darwinism]

Desire for great power status

Competitive drive to gain control of an area (for military) before a rival could do so

Some Examples

Spanish control of Latin America [old imperialism]

British control of India

Berlin Conference to divide Africa

Japanese control of Manchuria

Positive Effects

Built roads, railroads, and bridgesEducation improvedImproved medical careFood supply increasedBrought stability and unification to some areasCreated industries, improved standard of living

Negative EffectsPeople with common backgrounds separatedNatural resources exploitedNative cultures damaged

Promoted racism

Economic self-sufficiency lostDestroyed traditional patterns of trade

Cash crop overemphasizedFamily life disrupted

Introduced Western vices and diseases