Why were many European nations interested in exploration in the 1400s and 1500s quizlet?

1. Needed new route (especially to cut out the Muslim middle men).

2. Knew there was an interesting world out there- Marco Polo, Crusades.....

3. New Navigational instruments. Examples?

4. Patronage like Isabelle and Ferdinand, and Prince Henry with his school for navigators.

5. Wanted gold and silver / fame and wealth. (A chronicler who marched with Cortés said, "to grow rich as all men desire to do.")

6. Religion - very important to Catholic Conquistadors

7. Knowledge of geography - new maps, new instruments, etc.. all effects of the new developments in science.

During the Middle Ages, Europeans began to buy silks, spices, and other luxury goods from Asia. Spices, such as pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg were in great demand. Europeans used spices to preserve and flavor food, and for perfumes, cosmetics, and medicine.
A network of merchants controlled trade from Asia to Europe. Chinese and Indian traders sent spices by caravan over the Silk Road and other routes to the eastern Mediterranean region. From there, Arab and Byzantine traders shipped the spices to Europe. The Arabs earned huge profits selling luxury goods to Italian merchants. The Italians then sold the products to other Europeans.

Magellan traveled along South America's eastern coast, searching for a route to Asia. Near the southern tip of the continent, he reached a narrow water passage that is now called the Strait of Magellan. After passing through the stormy strait, the expedition entered a vast sea. It was so peaceful that Magellan named the sea the Pacific Ocean.
Magellan then sailed west. Water and food ran out, and the crew had to eat leather, sawdust, and rats. Some sailors died. Finally, after four months at sea, the expedition reached the present-day Philippines. There, Magellan was killed in a battle between local groups. The remaining crew members continued west across the Indian Ocean, around Africa, and back to Spain.

In November 1519, Cortés took control of the Aztec capital. To prevent an Aztec uprising, Cortés took Montezuma hostage (HAHS • tihj), or prisoner. He then ordered the Aztec to stop sacrificing people.
Cortés's orders angered the Aztec, who planned a rebellion. Fighting broke out, and the Spanish killed thousands of Aztec. However, there were far more Aztec, and Cortés had to fight his way out of the city. The Spanish took refuge in the nearby hills.
While Cortés prepared a second attack, smallpox broke out in Tenochtitlán. Many Aztec died of the disease, and the remaining Aztec could not fight off the Spanish and their allies. In June 1521, the Spanish destroyed the Aztec capital.

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The success of the Portuguese soon inspired other European nations to embark on exploration journeys of their own, Spain would soon follow
In 1492, Christopher Columbus , convinced that the earth was round, sailed from Spain. He planned to reach the east by sailing westward across the Atlantic Ocean. Instead he ran into two continents- North and South America
This region that Columbus encountered became known as "America" named after Italian sailor Amerigo Vespucci. It is also referred to as the "New World".
In 1519, Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan led an expedition from Spain. He rounded the southern tip of South America and crossed into the Pacific Ocean(Mar Pacifico). He crossed the Pacific and reached the Philippine Islands where he was killed. In 1522, one of his original ships arrived back in Spain, therefore completing the first circumnavigation of the world
Over the next century, Spain settled the West Indies (Caribbean Islands), Florida, Texas, California, Mexico, Central America and South America (except Brazil). In Asia, they controlled the Philippine Islands

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