What do you think were the top five motives for fifteenth and sixteenth-century Europeans went on voyages of exploration? Explain your answers.
Trade- Before explorers discovered the New World, they were searching for a shorter route to Asia so that they could trade for spices. Spices were important in preserving food, adding flavor, perfume, and medicine. Prince Henry of Portugal spent many years redesigning ships, preparing maps, and training crew members so that eventually explorers could sail around Africa to Asia. His dream was realized in 1488 when Bartholomew sailed around the Cape of Good Hope. This enabled Vasco de Gama to make the same trip around Africa in 1497 to Calicut. In 1502 Vasco de Gamo made a treaty with the leader of Calicut and seized control of area around the Indian Ocean. A Portuguese trading empire developed. Another example of an explorer motivated by trade was Christopher Columbus who on August 3, 1492 sailed west from Spain to reach the East Indies. He had no idea that the Americas existed. Therefore, when he reached the Caribbean , he named the people he encountered, "Indians".
Conquest- Explorers such as Juan Rodrigez Cabrillo sailed to conquer new lands for their country. He sailed along the coast of modern day California, claiming land from San Diego to Oregon for Spain. Hernan Cortes, another Spanish explorers, overthrew the Aztec empire in 1519. Through conquest, explorers gained land for their country, prestige and awards, and riches. This motivated explorers to find new lands and conquer them.Countries such as Spain, France, Portugal, and England fought to gain territory and power. They endorsed explorers such as Pizarro and Cabot to claim lands, bring back riches, and enslave the native inhabitants. Pizarro, an Italian explorer, was successful in destroying the Inca empire. The gold from his expedition made Spain the richest country in Europe. The Inca people were forced to work in Spanish mines.
Christianity- Explorers spread the Christian faith through conversion of the native people. While Cabrillo did not personally convert the Native Americans of California, his discovery and exploration lead missionaries to later set up strict Christian missions. Magellan, whose sailors were the first to circumnavigate the world, baptized people of the Philippines by force and killed those who refused to become Christians. Today, the major religion of the Philippines is Catholicism. Another example of a European who spread the Christian faith is Francis Xavier. While he is not strictly an explorer, Xavier journeyed through India, Japan, and Indonesia where he set up convents and monasteries. In 1547-1529 Xavier converted 300,000 Japanese people to Christianity. However, the Japanese banned missionaries in 1550 along with the Jesuits so Xavier's efforts were fruitful in converting the Japanese.
Curiosity- It was one of the Renaissance ideals which lead explorers to discover new lands or routes. The Renaissance was a period of rebirth and return to classical ideals. Scholars around the world were studying the classics of Aristotle and Plato. People became more interested in secular subjects such as the humanities and human achievement. Meanwhile, the Scientific Revolution started in the 1500s; it was a shift in scientific thinking which stated that mathematical laws governed the universe. Both the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution were drastic changes which influenced the way people, such as explorers, saw the world around themselves. They inspired explorers to investigate the globe and broaden their horizons. Through the Renaissance, Scientific Revolution, and explorers the world became a much larger place, not limited by Medieval thinking.
Mapping-When explores began sailing the seas in late 1400s they quickly realized that their maps were inaccurate; maps did not even have the Americas. In 1499, Amerigo Vespuci discovered Brazil; later, a German cartographer read Vespuci's journals and named America after Vespuci. Using tools such as the astrolabe and portable compass, cartographers and explorers were able to more accurately describe the world.
Trade- Before explorers discovered the New World, they were searching for a shorter route to Asia so that they could trade for spices. Spices were important in preserving food, adding flavor, perfume, and medicine. Prince Henry of Portugal spent many years redesigning ships, preparing maps, and training crew members so that eventually explorers could sail around Africa to Asia. His dream was realized in 1488 when Bartholomew sailed around the Cape of Good Hope. This enabled Vasco de Gama to make the same trip around Africa in 1497 to Calicut. In 1502 Vasco de Gamo made a treaty with the leader of Calicut and seized control of area around the Indian Ocean. A Portuguese trading empire developed. Another example of an explorer motivated by trade was Christopher Columbus who on August 3, 1492 sailed west from Spain to reach the East Indies. He had no idea that the Americas existed. Therefore, when he reached the Caribbean , he named the people he encountered, "Indians".
Christianity- Explorers spread the Christian faith through conversion of the native people. While Cabrillo did not personally convert the Native Americans of California, his discovery and exploration lead missionaries to later set up strict Christian missions. Magellan, whose sailors were the first to circumnavigate the world, baptized people of the Philippines by force and killed those who refused to become Christians. Today, the major religion of the Philippines is Catholicism. Another example of a European who spread the Christian faith is Francis Xavier. While he is not strictly an explorer, Xavier journeyed through India, Japan, and Indonesia where he set up convents and monasteries. In 1547-1529 Xavier converted 300,000 Japanese people to Christianity. However, the Japanese banned missionaries in 1550 along with the Jesuits so Xavier's efforts were fruitful in converting the Japanese.
Curiosity- It was one of the Renaissance ideals which lead explorers to discover new lands or routes. The Renaissance was a period of rebirth and return to classical ideals. Scholars around the world were studying the classics of Aristotle and Plato. People became more interested in secular subjects such as the humanities and human achievement. Meanwhile, the Scientific Revolution started in the 1500s; it was a shift in scientific thinking which stated that mathematical laws governed the universe. Both the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution were drastic changes which influenced the way people, such as explorers, saw the world around themselves. They inspired explorers to investigate the globe and broaden their horizons. Through the Renaissance, Scientific Revolution, and explorers the world became a much larger place, not limited by Medieval thinking.
Mapping-When explores began sailing the seas in late 1400s they quickly realized that their maps were inaccurate; maps did not even have the Americas. In 1499, Amerigo Vespuci discovered Brazil; later, a German cartographer read Vespuci's journals and named America after Vespuci. Using tools such as the astrolabe and portable compass, cartographers and explorers were able to more accurately describe the world.
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