UNIT I (4) VOYAGES AND EXPLORATIONS

The Renaissance encouraged a spirit of adventure and curiosity among Europeans. When the
Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, Europeans had to rely on Italian merchants for
goods from the East. Fortunately, Italian traders had strong connections with the Arabs due to
past trade during and after the Crusades. In the late 13th century, a group of Italian merchants
traveled to China, taking about two and a half years by land. Among them was Marco Polo, who
received a warm welcome at the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler of China. He also
traveled to Japan and the Spice Islands. Upon returning to Venice, he shared his thrilling
experiences, inspiring many Europeans to explore far-off lands by both land and sea.

Reasons for Geographical Explorations

Several factors helped European rulers and merchants explore new lands:

1. Navigation Tools – Europeans learned to use the mariner’s compass and astrolabe,
which helped them navigate. The Mariner’s compass helped in finding their way to reach
a particular spot.
2. Shipbuilding Improvements – The Europeans began to build better ships which were
used for a long journey.
3. Knowledge of Winds and Currents – The sailors of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth
centuries also gained knowledge about the winds, tides and currents from the school
established by the Portuguese prince, Henry “the Navigator” (1394-1660). This school
brought together top sailors, astronomers, and geographers who shared their knowledge.
Prince Henry’s school also organized maritime expeditions along the West African coast.
His navigators discovered Madeira Island (located in the Atlantic Ocean) and reached
places like Sudan and Senegal. They brought slaves and gold and paved way for the
establishment of Portuguese empire during the next century.

Portuguese Explorations
 Lopo Gonsalves crossed the equator.
 Bartholomew Diaz reached the Cape of Good Hope (southern coast of South Africa) in
1487. (Discovered by Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias in 1488, during his voyage
 to find a sea route to India. Originally named “Cape of Storms” due to its rough seas.
Renamed by King John II of Portugal to "Cape of Good Hope", symbolizing the
opening of a trade route to Asia.)
 Vasco da Gama followed Diaz’s route and reached Calicut, India, in 1498, marking a
turning point in trade between Europe and Asia.
 Pedro Cabral accidentally discovered Brazil in 1500 while sailing down Africa’s west
coast.

Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of America

Christopher Columbus, an Italian sailor, planned to find a sea route to the East by sailing
westward. With financial support from the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, he set sail
on August 3, 1492. After a long voyage, he reached an island in the Bahamas on October 12,
1492, believing he had arrived in India. He called the native people “Indians.” Columbus
explored Cuba and Haiti and made three more voyages, claiming lands for Spain.

However, the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci later realized that Columbus had found a “New
World,” not India. A German geographer then suggested naming the land “America” in
Amerigo’s honor.

Other Important Explorations

 Balboa (Spain) (1513) – Discovered the Pacific Ocean from the Isthmus of Panama
(Central America).
 Magellan (Portugal) (1519–1522) – Led the first expedition to circumnavigate the
world. He passed through the Strait of Magellan (a natural sea passage at the southern
tip of South America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans), reached the
Philippines, and was killed in battle. His ship, Victoria, completed the journey back to
Spain.

Spanish Conquests

 Hernando Cortez (1519) – Defeated the Aztecs in Mexico (N. America) and became its
Spanish governor.
  Francisco Pizarro (1533) – Conquered Peru (S. America) and defeated the Inca ruler,
setting up a Spanish-controlled government. The Spanish forced the natives of Mexico
and Peru to work in gold and silver mines. Spanish missionaries also converted many to
Christianity.

English and French Explorations

 John Cabot (1497) – An Italian explorer working for England, he reached Canada (North
America), believing it was China. His discoveries helped England claim much of North
America.
 Later English explorers like Drake, Gilbert, and Raleigh expanded these claims, and the
English later established trading outposts in India.
 French Explorers like Jacques Cartier (1535) and Champlain Marquette (1608) explored
North America, claiming land from the St. Lawrence River to the Mississippi River,
which became New France in the north and Louisiana in the south.

Dutch Explorations

 Henry Hudson (1609) – Discovered the Hudson River (US), leading to Dutch claims in
North America.
 Willem Barents – Explored the Arctic and discovered Spitsbergen (Island).

Effects of Geographical Discoveries

1. End of Medieval Thinking – Europeans realized the world was larger than previously
thought, with continents separated by oceans.
2. Political Changes – Monarchs who sponsored explorations gained wealth and power,
helping to establish nation-states. The wealth of their countries increased by the increased
import of raw materials from the newly found lands. It enabled them to convert their
states into nation-states with people’s cooperation. The ruled and the rulers of these
countries began to take pride in their achievements. There was a remarkable decline in
feudalism as a result of the rising popularity of enlightened monarchs.
 3. Colonization – The direct effect of the geographical discoveries was colonization.
Portugal and Spain followed by other European countries enhanced their national glory
by building overseas empires:
 Portugal – Brazil, Goa (India), Macao (China), and African territories.
 Spain – Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, and parts of the U.S.
 Netherlands – East Indies. (The East Indies is a historical term used by European
explorers and traders to describe the islands of Southeast Asia. It was a major center
for spice trade, colonial competition, and global commerce)
 France – Canada.
 Britain – Thirteen colonies in North America.

Impact on Trade and Commerce

1. Trade between Europe and newly discovered lands expanded rapidly.

2. Portugal and the Netherlands gained wealth from the spice trade, while Spain looted
treasures from Mexico and Peru.
3. The mercantilist system emerged, where European powers controlled trade and profited
from colonies.
4. Italy lost its dominance in trade as Lisbon and Seville became major trading ports.

Social Changes

1. Rise of the Middle Class – Businesspeople, bankers, and traders gained wealth and
influence, moving to cities and supporting arts and literature.
2. Decline of Feudalism – Many nobles left their castles to engage in trade, while peasants
struggled with new cash-based rents, leading many to become agricultural laborers.
3. Expansion of Slavery – When indigenous people in South America resisted forced labor,
Spain and Portugal began importing African slaves. The transatlantic slave trade grew
significantly.

Spread of Christianity

European colonization was accompanied by missionary efforts to convert native populations.

Christian missions built churches, provided education, and opposed the harsh treatment of native
people. However, missionary Bartolome de las Casas (Spanish missionary) suggested that
African slaves would be more suitable for labor than indigenous people, which contributed to the
expansion of the African slave trade.

Conclusion

The Age of Exploration led to European domination of the world. It reshaped global trade,
politics, and culture, making Europe the most powerful continent until the mid-20th century.
Colonization, wealth accumulation, the spread of Christianity, and the rise of capitalism were all
lasting impacts of these explorations.

Who Named Them "Red Indians"?

 The term is believed to have originated from early European explorers (especially the
Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English) who arrived in the 15th–17th centuries.
 Christopher Columbus (1492) mistakenly called the Indigenous people "Indians"
because he thought he had reached India.
 Later, European settlers added "Red" to distinguish them from people in India, whom
they also called "Indians."