Exploration and
Exploitation
I. The
greatest event in modern history?
A.
Immense implications of Europe's ventures at sea
1. modern
world impossible to imagine without it
B.
Inspirations for exploration
1. crusading
tradition of Europe
2. humanist enthusiasm
for knowledge of the world
3. commercial
opportunities
II.
Portuguese Exploits
A.
Portugal's quest for greatness
1. becomes
a kingdom in 1385
2. King John launches
crusade to Ceuta, Africa (1415)
3. Prince Henry the
Navigator presses exploration (1420-1460)
B.
The African Coast
1. How far does it
go?
a.
Ptolemy's map
b.
reasons to doubt Ptolemy's map--St. Isadore's map
c.
might be easier to go west (thought Columbus)
2. Captain Eannes reaches West Africa (1444)
a.
gold and slave trade initiated
3. Bartholomew Dias
goes south and finds the end of Africa (1488)
a.
Columbus asks the Spanish court for ships, and is rejected at first
C. Vasco de Gama reaches India
1. First trip (1497-99) [exploration]
2. Second trip (1502)
[exploitation]
III.
Columbus's Voyages of Folly
A.
Columbus's motives
1. His
background and experience
2. A Genoese
merchant through and through
B. False assumptions reinforced by huge ego
1. underestimates the size of the earth
2. underestimates the distance to Japan
3. Never abandons the idea that he is in the Indies, despite the
evidence
4. concludes that world is NOT round after the
third voyage
C. Makes plans to conquer Indians (Americans) and convert
them to laborers
1. plans fail mostly because of smallpox
2. Columbus wanted to bring slavery, but brought death instead