Chapter 9

The Age of Exploration

3.2 EVALUATE the impact of conquest and colonisation on people, with
particular reference to Portuguese and Spanish exploration
3.11 EXPLORE the contribution of technological developments and
innovation to historical change

9.1 Timeline
9.2 Cornell Notes
9.3 Keywords
9.4 Knowledge Organiser
9.5 Questions
In this chapter, you'll learn about the era of exploration, the causes and consequences of
European colonization, and the impact of colonialism on indigenous societies.

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 Chapter 9

Strand Three: The History of Europe and the Wider World

Age of Exploration and Conquest
3.2 EVALUATE the impact of conquest and colonisation on people, with particular reference to
Portuguese and Spanish exploration
3.11 EXPLORE the contribution of technological developments and innovation to historical change
Bartolomeu Dias
Hernan Cortes Francisco Pizarro
becomes first European
conquers the Aztec conquers the Incan
to sail to the south
Empire in Mexico. Empire in Peru.
coast of Africa

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1419 1487 1492 1519 1521 1522 1642
Abel Tasman was the
Prince Henry the Christopher Columbus Ferdinand Magellan's first European to find
Navigator founded his reaches America, voyage becomes the Tasmania, south of
navigation school in claiming the new found first to circumnavigate Australia, and New
Sagres land for Spain. the globe. Zealand.
REASONS FOR EUROPEAN • Before the 1400s, travel by sea was difficult as most ships could not navigate well and people
EXPLORATION
were afraid of the unknown. Despite this, Europeans began to explore the wider world because:
• The Renaissance encouraged people to learn about the world around them.
• The stories of the Italian traveller Marco Polo from his travels to China described great
wealth and wonders.
• Merchants hoped to grow rich from new trade routes for silks and spices.
• The fall of Constantinople to the Muslim Ottomans in 1453 had cut off the Great Silk Road
trade route from Christian Europe meaning alternative routes were needed.
• Desire for land and empires by European rulers led them to fund voyages of exploration.
• The Pope encouraged Christian rulers to spread Christianity, especially as Islam grew more
powerful.

TECHNOLOGICAL
• Advances in technology made navigation easier and possible to sail across oceans to explore.
CHANGES
NEW MAPS • Cartographers adopted more detailed maps from Constantinople.
• Portuguese explorers developed portolan charts. They were more accurate, mapping tides,
currents, coastlines and harbours; xplorers were constantly updating these maps.

NEW INVENTIONS • Quadrants and astrolabes were used to determine a ship’s latitude (distance from the equator)
by using the position of the stars and sun.
• A compass are used to identify north.
• A log and line was used to measure a ship’s speed in knots which were recorded in a logbook.
• A line and lead weight was used to measure the depth of the water.

NEW SHIPS • The caravel was a new development; large and sturdy enough to go on long voyages and
through all winds. It had triangular lateen sails with a lighter caravel-built hull. A rudder was
added to improve steering while a castle at the back of the deck improved the crew’s quarters.
• A nao was later built; larger and stronger version of the caravel.

Renaissance Compass The Age of Exploration came after the Renaissance and the travels of Marco Polo to India and
Marco Polo Log and line China. European rulers wished to spread Christianity and continue the trading of silks and
Christianity Line and lead spices from Asian countries. New technological advances were needed to send explorers on
Silks and spices Caravel voyages. This included cartographers developing portolan charts to more accurately record
Voyages Lateen sails new maps. New instruments included quadrants, astrolabes, compasses, log and lines, and
Cartographers Caravel hull line and lead weights. This period also saw the development of the caravel ship which made
Portolan Charts Rudder crossing the Atlantic Ocean possible. This new ship used triangular lateen sails (to help the ship
Quadrant Castle sail through all types of winds, a purpose-built Caravel hull (planks placed edge to edge), a
Astrolabe Nao rudder (to help steering) and castle (sleeping quarters); the naos was a bigger version of this.
LIFE ABOARD A SHIP • The captain had a cabin while the crew slept on deck or in hammocks below deck.
• Sailing and maintaining the ship was very hard work; the captain and officers were usually
wealthy while the sailors were poor which sometimes led to tensions on board.
• Sailors would sometimes rebel against their captain (mutiny) so harsh discipline was common
in order to keep everyone in line: sailors were flogged, put in chains or executed.
• During long voyages, food was preserved by drying or salting it. A lack of fresh water led to
typhoid while the lack of vitamin C led to scurvy. Starvation was common as they didn’t know
how long a journey would take.
• Shipwreck was common as they explored new locations while sailors feared “sea monsters”.

THE EARLY VOYAGES OF • The first voyages set off from Portugal in the 1400s as Portuguese rulers wanted new trade
EXPLORATION
routes to make the wealthy and to compete against their powerful neighbours, Spain.
• Prince Henry the Navigator set up a school of navigation at Sagres where he brought sailors
cartographers, astronomers and instrument makers together.
• The Portuguese wanted to find a way around Africa to Asia; they set up trading bases all along
the African coastline while making discoveries such as the Canary Islands.
• 1487 saw explorer Bartolomeu Dias round the southern tip of Africa (Cape of Good Hope)
• 1497 saw explorer Vasco da Gama sail around Africa and reach Calicut, India; the trip took
two years and proved that India (and China) could be reached this way.

RESULTS OF THE EARLY • Portugal would benefit the most from the early voyages which meant that they:
VOYAGES
• became wealthy from trade
• established a large empire in Africa and Asia.
• the spice trade came under Portugal’s control.
• Imports of spices increased into Europe.
• Other rulers were inspired to sponsor voyages of exploration such as Spain, the Netherlands,
France and Britain.

Cabin Portugal While a captain had a cabin, the rest of the crew usually slept on deck or in hammocks below the
Mutiny Spain deck. Life as a sailor included a lot of hard work. There was a threat some sailors would mutiny
Discipline Prince Henry against their captains so harsh disciplines such as flogging or execution were used to keep
Flogging Sagres sailors in line. Sailors were always at risk of diseases such as typhoid and scurvy, starvation
Execution Bartolomeu Dias
and shipwrecks. The first voyages would sail from Portugal as they sought to become more
Typhoid Vasco da Gama successful than their powerful neighbours, Spain. Prince Henry the Navigator would set up a
Scurvy school of navigation in Sagres which helped Portugal develop technological advances that
Starvation allowed Portuguese explorers such as Bartolomeu Dias round the Cape of Good Hope in 1487
Shipwreck and Vasco da Gama to reach Calicut in India in 1497 which gained Portugal initial success.
COLUMBUS AND THE • Portugal’s rival Spain had to look west to the Atlantic Ocean to conquer lands as Portugal had
DISCOVERY OF THE ‘NEW
WORLD’ gained control of the routes around Africa.
• King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agreed to sponsor Christopher Columbus (1451
1506), an Italian explorer, to try to discover a route the Far East by sailing across the Atlantic.
• Columbus was given three ships – the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María – and a crew of 80
men before setting sail from Palos on 3rd August 1492. They got fresh supplies in the Canary
Islands – this was the last time the crew would see land for weeks, leading to tensions rising.
• On 12th October, 69 days after leaving Spain, land was finally sighted. Columbus would name
it San Salvador and its inhabitants Indians – because he believed they had reached India.
• He had not reached India but had instead found the American continent (‘New World’).
• Columbus explored the islands in the Bahamas looking for cities and wealth as Polo described.
• Early 1493 saw Columbus return to Spain bringing slaves, exotic fruits, maize, parrots and
gold for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella for which he was appointed governor of their new
territory as a reward.
• Columbus made three more voyages to the Bahamas but was removed as governor in 1499
following reports of his brutality and poor leadership.

AGE OF EXPLORATION • For the next 200 years, there were numerous important explorations such as:
AFTER COLUMBUS
• 1497: John Cabot landed in Newfoundland, Canada and claimed it for the English king
Henry VII.
• 1519-1522: Ferdinand Magellan led a fleet on a voyage to finally prove that the world was
round by circumnavigating (sailing around) the globe.
• 1642: Abel Tasman was the first European to find Tasmania, south of Australia, and
New Zealand.

CONQUEST AND
COLONISATION: • Stories of the wealth of the New World led to more and more men traveling across the sea
CONQUERING THE NEW looking for wealth and adventure; and with that came the conquistadores (conquerors).
WORLD

Spain ‘New World’ Spain had to look west for new colonies as Portugal dominated the African coastlines. King
King Ferdinand Slaves Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain commissioned Christopher Columbus to set sail west.
Queen Isabella Governor He was given the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María along with 80 men, setting sail in 1492.
Christopher Columbus Columbus landed on San Salvador, calling its inhabitants Indians upon the belief they had found
Niña Brutality India – they had found the American Continent (‘New World’). Columbus returned to Spain with
Pinta John Cabot slaves and exotic goods for which he was rewarded with the appointment as governor of New
Santa María Magellan Spain. He was later removed for his brutal treatment of the natives. John Cabot discovered
San Salvador Abel Tasman Newfoundland; Magellan’s voyage circumnavigated the globe and Abel Tasman’s discovered
Indians Conquistadores of Tasmania and New Zealand. Conquistadores would go on to conquer Southern America.
HERNÁN CORTÉS (1485 – • The Aztecs were the ancient civilisation of southern modern-day Mexico. Their capital was
1547) AND THE AZTECS
Tenochtitlan which had a population of over 250,000 in 1519.
• Aztec society was ruled by a king and priests but was very different to the European feudal
system. They were also polytheists – they worshipped many gods such as the sun god
Huitzilopochtli to whom the Aztecs made blood sacrifices.
• Their weapons and tools were made of wood, stone and copper as they didn’t have iron or steel.
Nor did they have horses, cattle, sheep or pigs – they did have turkeys, dogs and guinea pigs.
• Hernán Cortés, a Spanish soldier and traveller who had explored the New World wished to
attack the Aztecs for their collection of gold.
• February 1519, Cortés landed with 11 ships, 500 soldiers and 13 horses.
• Local tribes that had suffered under Aztec rule helped Cortés and his men march on
Tenochtitlan where Cortés was greeted by the king, Montezuma. He was mistaken for the god
Quetzalcoatl – for which he was worshipped by the Aztecs.
• The Spanish soldiers stole gold before taking Montezuma hostage; the Aztecs revolted and
drove the Spaniards out – Montezuma was killed in the violence.
• Cortés and his men fled only to regroup with local allies to lay siege to Tenochtitlan for three
months. When the city fell, its people were massacred.
• The Spanish king Charles I appointed Cortés governor of New Spain which was built on the
ruins of the Aztec Empire.

FRANCISCO PIZARRO
• The Incas were a far more advanced civilisation than the Aztecs who had sophisticated artists,
(1475 – 1541) AND THE
INCAS engineers and architects. Their territory within the Andes mountains (western coast of South
America) and its capital was Cusco.
• Francisco Pizarro, under order of King Charles V of Spain, invaded the Incan Empire in 1532
with an army of 180 men and 27 horses. They were outnumbered but had superior weapons
and Pizarro captured the Incan god-king, Atahualpa.
• The Incans tried to negotiate for their king’s return with treasure, but Pizarro killed him anyways
before defeating the remaining Incan armies who were in chaos after their king’s death. Pizarro
renamed the Incan territory the Spanish province of New Castile with the capital at Lima.

Aztecs Siege The Aztecs were the first to fall to the Spanish Conquistadores. They were polytheists who
Tenochtitlan New Spain believed in Gods such as Huitzilopochtli. When Cortés landed, they believed him to be their
Polytheists Incas god, Quetzalcoatl. He took the Aztec king, Montezuma hostage who was killed in the resulting
Huitzilopochtli Andes violence. Cortés would lay siege to Tenochtitlan before massacring the Aztec population. New
Cortés Pizarro Spain would be built on the ruins of the Aztec Empire. Pizarro would similarly wipe out the Incan
Montezuma Atahualpa Empire in the Andes mountains after ruthlessly killing their god-king, Atahualpa. He would build
Quetzalcoatl New Castile New Castile upon the ruins of the once thriving Incan Empire, founding a new capital at Lima.
THE IMPACT OF • Colonisation is when a country takes over another territory and settles some of its own people
COLONISATION
there to control it. This process has a major impact on both the colonised and the colonisers.

IMPACT ON PEOPLES OF • ‘Indigenous’ means native to or belonging to a particular place. The various indigenous peoples
SOUTH AMERICA
of South America were severely impacted by the arrival of Europeans.
• Indigenous populations were decimated, partly through violence but most of all by the
unfamiliar diseases introduced by the Europeans such as measles, influenza and smallpox.
• Indigenous cultures, languages and customs were destroyed as populations fell and the
Spanish and Portuguese languages became dominant.
• The Catholic Church (especially the Jesuits) converted the indigenous peoples to Christianity.
• The slave trade experienced massive growth as a result of the Age of Exploitation.
• Catholics could not be slaves under religious rules meaning many millions of African people
were transported to the Americas as slaves to produce goods such as sugar, tobacco, coffee,
silver and gold that were then shipped to Europe in the Atlantic slavery triangle.

IMPACT ON EUROPE • The Age of Exploration and Conquest directly led to the Age of Imperialism as other European
states (such as England, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Russia) wanted to
create empires of their own.
• The British Empire (1603-1997) would colonise around 25% of the world's land, setting up
colonies in North-Eastern America, India, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Africa.
• These new Empires scrambling for territory led to many conflicts. For example, Spain and
Portugal almost went to war over South America before they signed the Treaty of Tordesillas
(1494) which divided the New World between them. Such competition between these new
imperial powers that would exist up to the end of World War II.
• Gold and silver found in the Andes made Spain the most powerful of the European empires in
the 1500s and 1600s.
• The Columbian Exchange was the exchange of foods, animals and technology between
Europe and the Americas – cocoa, tobacco, potatoes and coffee came to Europe while
steel, horses and cattle were introduced to the Americas.

Colonisation Age of Colonisation was one of the biggest outcomes from the Age of Exploration of conquest, having
Indigenous Imperialism
a major impact on both the colonised and the coloniser. Many of the indigenous peoples (their
Diseases Treaty of cultures, languages and customs) were wiped out through violence and diseases. The Catholic
Tordesillas
Jesuits Church through religious orders such as the Jesuits converted many of the indigenous peoples to
Christianity Columbian Christianity. Slaves were brought from Africa to the Americas to work through the Atlantic Slave
Exchange
Slaves Triangle. Europe gained power through the Age of Imperialism and the Columbian Exchange.
Atlantic Slave Triangle The Treaty of Tordesillas prevented war between Portugal and Spain over their new colonies.
Astrolabe • An instrument of navigation used to determine latitude, longitude and altitude.
• The trade triangle whereby ships delivered African slaves to the Americas, American goods to
Atlantic Slave Trade
Europe, and European-manufactured goods back to Africa.
• A native civilisation in the New World that controlled Mexico until it was conquered by Hernán
Aztecs
Cortés and the Spanish Conquistadors.
Caravel • A small ship with triangular lateen sails.
Circumnavigation • Sail all the way around the world.
• When a country takes over another territory and settles some of its own people there to control
Colonisation
it.
• The exchange of goods, including animals and food types, between Europe and the New World.
Columbian Exchange
Also called the 'Great Exchange'.
Commemoration • A ceremony in which a person or an event is remembered.
• An instrument of navigation used to determine direction; the needle always points to magnetic
Compass
North.
Conquest • Where people or a country take control of another people or country by military force.
Conquistador • A Spanish soldier or conqueror in the New World.
Controversy • An issue or event which is disputed or not agreed in by different groups.
Empire • A group of countries ruled by another country.
• The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic
Genocide
group.
Great Silk Road • A network of land routes connecting Europe and Asia that was used by merchants.
Impact • The effect or influence of a movement, event or person.
• A native civilisation in the New World that controlled Peru until it was conquered by Francisco
Incas
Pizzaro and the Spanish Conquistadors.
• A court of the Catholic Church that investigated people accused of heresy. It was most active in
Inquisition
Italy and Spain.
Log Line • An instrument used by sailors to measure speed.
Plantation • A large farm on which a particular crop is grown.
Quadrat • An instrument of navigation used to determine latitude, longitude and altitude.
Scurvy • A disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. Its symptoms include tooth decay and bleeding gums.
Slavery • The practice of one person being owned by another.
• An infectious disease that Europeans spread to the New World, resulting in the deaths of
Smallpox
millions of native peoples.
• Treaty between Spain and Portugal, created by Pope Alexander VI, where they divided newly
Treaty of Tordesillas
discovered lands between them, along the line of Tordesillas.
 The Age of Exploration and Conquest Chapter 9
3.2 EVALUATE the impact of conquest and colonisation on people, with particular reference to Portuguese and Spanish exploration
Term Definition
3.11 EXPLORE the contribution of technological developments and innovation to historical change
An instrument of navigation used to determine latitude, longitude and
Astrolabe The Stone Age
altitude.
Before the 1400s, travel by sea was difficult as most ships could not navigate well and people were afraid ot the unknown. Despite this, Europeans began to explore the wider world
The trade triangle whereby ships delivered African slaves to the because:
Atlantic Slave Trade Americas, American goods to Europe, and European-manufactured The Renaissance encouraged people to learn about the world around them.
goods back to Africa. The stories of the Italian traveller Marco Polo from his travels to China described great wealth and wonders.
Merchants hoped to grow rich from new trade routes for silks and spices.
A native civilisation in the New World that controlled Mexico until it
Aztecs The fall of Constantinople to the Muslim Ottomans in 1453 cut off Christian Europe from the Great Silk Road trade route, meaning new trade routes were needed.
was conquered by Hernán Cortés and the Spanish Conquistadors.
Desire for land and empires by European rulers led them to fund voyages of exploration.
Caravel A small ship with triangular lateen sails. The Pope encouraged Christian rulers to spread Christianity, especially as Islam grew more powerful.
Circumnavigation Sail all the way around the world. Technological Changes Christopher Columbus Hernán Cortés
When a country takes over another territory and settles some of its Advances in technology made navigation easier and possible to In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, set sail Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who led an
Colonisation sail across oceans to explore. Cartographers adopted more from Spain with three ships, the Niña, Pinta, and Santa expedition to conquer the Aztec Empire in 1519. Cortés and
own people there to control it.
detailed maps form Constantinople while Portuguese Maria, on a mission to find a new trade route to Asia. After his army of about 600 men arrived in the region that is now
The exchange of goods, including animals and food types, between explorers developed and regularly updated portolan charts several weeks at sea, they spotted land on October 12, Mexico and made alliances with indigenous peoples who
Columbian Exchange
Europe and the New World. Also called the 'Great Exchange'. which were more accurate by mapping tides, currents and which turned out to be an island in the Caribbean, now were enemies of the Aztecs. Cortés and his army marched to
harbours. New inventions were also created such as quadrants known as the Bahamas. Columbus and his crew explored the the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, and were welcomed by the
Commemoration A ceremony in which a person or an event is remembered.
and astrolabes (used to determine a ship's latitude (distance surrounding islands and encountered various indigenous Aztec emperor Montezuma. After a period of tense
An instrument of navigation used to determine direction; the needle from the equator) by using the position of the stars and sun), peoples, whom they initially described as friendly and coexistence, Cortés took Montezuma hostage and demanded
Compass
always points to magnetic North. compass (used to identify north), log and line (used to generous. Over the next few years, Columbus made three that the Aztecs submit to Spanish rule. The Aztecs rebelled,
measure a ship's speed in knots which were then recorded in a more voyages to the Americas, exploring the Caribbean and and Montezuma was killed in the conflict, forcing Cortés to
Where people or a country take control of another people or country logbook) and a line and lead weight (used to measure the Central and South America. During these voyages, Columbus flee the city, but he returned with reinforcements and laid
Conquest
by military force. depth of the water). and his crew encountered various indigenous cultures and siege to Tenochtitlan. After several months of fighting, the
Conquistador A Spanish soldier or conqueror in the New World. engaged in trade, conquest, and enslavement. Columbus' city fell to the Spanish in 158, and the Aztec Empire was
voyages had significant consequences for both the Americas conquered. Cortés' conquest of the Aztecs was brutal and
An issue or event which is disputed or not agreed in by different and Europe, including the spread of disease, the beginning of resulted in the deaths of many thousands of Aztec people. It
Controversy
groups. European colonization, and the exchange of ideas, cultures, also had significant consequences for the region, including
and resources. Today, Columbus is remembered as a the introduction of Christianity, the spread of European
Empire A group of countries ruled by another country.
controversial figure, with his legacy celebrated by some as a diseases, and the establishment of Spanish rule over Mexico.
The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a heroic explorer and condemned by others as a symbol of Today, the conquest of the Aztecs is viewed as a symbol of
Genocide
particular nation or ethnic group. European colonialism and the oppression of native peoples. the destructive power of colonialism.
A network of land routes connecting Europe and Asia that was used by Francisco Pizarro Impact on Empires Impact on Colonies
Great Silk Road
merchants. Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador, led an expedition 1. Other European states saw the wealth and power that Spain The native population was decimated: In 1519, the
to conquer the Inca Empire in what is now Peru in the early was gaining from its conquests in South American and decided to native population was roughly 25 million. By 1605, this
Impact The effect or influence of a movement, event or person. make empires of their own.
1530s.. Pizarro and his small army of around 180 men took had fallen to about 3 million. Violence and mistreatment
Portugal explored and settled the east coast of South
A native civilisation in the New World that controlled Peru until it was advantage of internal divisions within the Inca Empire and was partly to blame. The main cause was disease (90%
Incas America, modern-day Brazil. Portuguese is Brazil’s first
conquered by Francisco Pizzaro and the Spanish Conquistadors. allied with various local tribes. They marched to the Inca died because of disease). Europeans introduced
language and Uruguay’s second; the rest of South America
capital, Cusco, and captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa, epidemic diseases such as smallpox, measles and
A court of the Catholic Church that investigated people accused of speak Spanish.
Inquisition whom they eventually executed. Despite the loss of their England (Britain from 1707) set up colonies in eastern North influenza to the New World. Unlike Europeans, the
heresy. It was most active in Italy and Spain.
leader, the Inca put up fierce resistance, and the Spanish faced America. Britain would later expand its empire to cover Americans had no immune system to these diseases.
Log Line An instrument used by sailors to measure speed. significant challenges in their conquest. However, over the Ireland, India, large sections of Africa, Australia and New The destruction of cultures: The decline of native
next few years, the Spanish gradually consolidated their Zealand. Britain would also become the strongest and largest population led to the loss of old and advanced
Plantation A large farm on which a particular crop is grown. control over the region, often resorting to extreme violence to empire in the world, colonising almost 25% of the world’s civilisations. As Spanish and Portuguese became the
suppress any signs of rebellion. Pizarro's conquest of the Inca population. languages of the ruling classes, native languages and
An instrument of navigation used to determine latitude, longitude and France conquered parts of North America (mainly inland and
Quadrat Empire had significant consequences for the region, including customs were wiped out.
altitude. Canada) as well as parts of Africa and Asia.
the imposition of Spanish culture, religion, and language, and The spread of Christianity: Priests, especially the
The Netherlands, founded in 1579, conquered the Spice
A disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. Its symptoms include tooth the introduction of new crops, such as wheat and grapes. It Jesuits, set up the Catholic Church in the New World.
Scurvy Islands (modern-day Indonesia).
decay and bleeding gums. also resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Inca people While the old gods were still worshipped in private, the
2. Countries were scrambling for territory which led to conflicts.
due to warfare, forced labor, and disease. Today, the conquest For example, Spain and Portugal almost went to war over South local populations were severely punished if they were
Slavery The practice of one person being owned by another.
of the Inca Empire is viewed as a testament to the destructive America until Pope Alexander VI forced them to sign the Treaty discovered.

@MsDoorley
An infectious disease that Europeans spread to the New World, impact of colonialism. of Tordesillas in 1494. Massive growth in the slave trade: As Catholics could
Smallpox 3. Huge deposits of gold and silver from the Andes were shipped not be taken as slaves and a need to replace natives who
resulting in the deaths of millions of native peoples.
back to Spain, making it the most powerful country in Europe died, millions of Africans were transported across the
Treaty between Spain and Portugal, created by Pope Alexander VI, throughout the 1500s and 1600s while Italy’s power declined. Atlantic. The ‘Atlantic slavery triangle’ developed; ships
Treaty of Tordesillas where they divided newly discovered lands between them, along the 4. The ‘Columbian exchange’ was the exchange of foods and sailed to African slaving ports and took slaves to the
line of Tordesillas. animals between Europe and the Americas, changing the to
Americas then sailed back to Europe, full of food and
continents forever. Horses, cattle, sheep, new farming methods
precious materials.
and new technologies were introduced to the Americas. Potatoes,
chillies, avocado, cocoa (chocolate), coffee, tomatoes and
tobacco were introduced to Europe.
The Age of Exploration
Doodle Revision Page or Sketch Notes
Include heading(s), short notes, keywords, timelines,
images (maps, drawings, diagrams) as needed

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The Age of Exploration ...at a glance
Reasons for European Exploration
Influence of the Renaissance: A renewed interest in learning and questioning old ideas.
Marco Polo’s Stories: His travels to China inspired curiosity about the East.
New Trade Routes: European demand for silks and spices after the Black Death.
Fall of Constantinople (1453): The Silk Road was cut off, so new routes were needed to reach Asia.
Desire for Empire: European rulers sought to expand their territories and wealth.
Spread of Christianity: The Pope encouraged rulers to spread Christianity to new lands.

Advances in Navigation and Technology

New Maps: Cartographers used advanced maps from Constantinople and developed portolan charts
(detailed maps of harbours and coastlines).
New Equipment:
Quadrant and Astrolabe: Measured latitude using stars.
Compass: Showed direction.
Log and Line: Measured a ship’s speed.
New Ships:
Caravels: Ships with triangular sails (to sail against the wind) and carvel-built hulls (lighter and
faster).
Naos: Larger ships better suited for Atlantic crossings.

Key Voyages of Exploration

Portuguese Exploration:
Prince Henry the Navigator (1419) founded a navigation school in Sagres.
Bartolomeu Dias (1487): First European to sail around the southern tip of Africa (Cape of Good
Hope).
Vasco da Gama (1497): Sailed around Africa to reach India.
Spanish Exploration:
Christopher Columbus (1492): Reached the Americas, believing he had found a route to India.
Ferdinand Magellan (1519-1522): His crew completed the first circumnavigation of the globe.

Life on Board Ships

Harsh Conditions:
Sailors worked long hours maintaining the ship, raising sails, steering, and cleaning.
Discipline: Harsh punishment (e.g., flogging or execution for mutiny).
Food: Mainly dry, salty food like ship’s biscuits.
Disease: Common illnesses included scurvy (from lack of Vitamin C) and typhoid (from
contaminated water).
Fear of the Unknown: Sailors believed in sea monsters and were terrified of sailing off the edge of
the world.

The Conquest of the New World

Hernán Cortés (1519): Conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico, capturing its capital Tenochtitlan.
Montezuma, the Aztec emperor, was taken hostage, and the Spanish took control.
Francisco Pizarro (1532): Conquered the Inca Empire in Peru.
Atahualpa, the Inca emperor, was executed after offering a ransom of gold and silver.
Results:
The Spanish established colonies in the Americas.
The indigenous population was decimated by violence and European diseases like smallpox.
The Spanish gained vast wealth from gold and silver.

The Impact of Colonisation

On the New World:
Population Decline: By 1605, the native population of South America had fallen from 25 million
to 3 million, largely due to disease.
@MsDoorley

Destruction of Cultures: Native languages, customs, and religions were suppressed.

Slave Trade: Millions of Africans were transported to replace the decimated indigenous population.
On Europe:
European countries (Spain, Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands) established large
empires.
The Columbian Exchange: The exchange of foods and animals between Europe and the
Americas, including potatoes, tomatoes, chocolate, and horses.
Spain became the most powerful country in Europe, fueled by wealth from the Americas.
Ch. 9 - The Age of Exploration
Source A depicts the arrival of Columbus on San Salvador in 1492. Source B is an edited extract of his
account of people he met. Study them and answer the questions that follow.

B October 13, 1492: At daybreak great multitudes of men came to the shore, all young and of fine
shapes, and very handsome. Their hair was not curly but loose and coarse like horse-hair ... Their
eyes are large and very beautiful ... I... strove to learn if they had any gold. Seeing some of them
with little bits of metal hanging at their noses, I gathered... there was a king who possessed great
cups full of gold.
October 14, 1492: They... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things
which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they
owned.. They were well built with handsome features. They do not bear arms [weapons], and do
not know them. I showed them a sword, they took it and cut themselves out of ignorance. They would
make fine servants... with fifty men we could subjugate [overpower] them and make them do
whatever we want.

(a) In source B, how did Columbus describe the people he met?

(b) What did he try and find out from them?
(c) What did the indigenous people give the
Spaniards and what did they receive in return?
(d) Does Columbus think it would be easy to
conquer them? Why he does he believe this?
(e) What is Columbus' opinion of the people?
Give two pieces of evidence to support your answer.
(f) How are the indigenous people depicted in source A? What do you think the artist's attitude to the
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indigenous people was?

(g) What issues can arise for historians in basing their research only on accounts such as those by
Columbus?
(h) Write an account of the impact that the Spanish conquest and colonisation of the Americas had on
the indigenous peoples.

Taken from Artefact, 2nd Edition by Eimear Jenkinson and Gregg O'Neill (educate.ie)
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