EXPANSÃO MARÍTIMA E GRANDES NAVEGAÇÕES | Resumo de História para o Enem

Summary

The video explores the age of maritime expansion, a pivotal moment in the rise of commercial capitalism. It details the context and factors leading to Portuguese navigations, driven by the economic crisis in Europe, the quest for new markets, and the search for luxury goods. Portugal's pioneering role in maritime exploration is highlighted, with a focus on the political stability, royal alliances, and technological innovations that facilitated these voyages. Key expeditions, including Vasco da Gama's route to India and Cabral’s discovery of Brazil, are covered, culminating in the global consequences of European exploration, such as the shift in trade routes and the spread of colonialism.

Takeaways

• 😀 The maritime expansion in the 15th century was a crucial phase for the consolidation of commercial capitalism.
• 😀 The crisis of the 14th century in Europe, including events like the Black Plague and the Hundred Years' War, led to economic decline and the need for new markets.
• 😀 The Portuguese navigations were driven by the search for new markets, particularly in Africa and the East, for goods like ivory, spices, and luxury items.
• 😀 The Mediterranean, a key trading route, was dominated by Italian city-states and Arabs, prompting the search for alternative routes through the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
• 😀 Religious fervor, including the spirit of the Crusades, motivated many navigators to explore and combat Muslim-controlled territories.
• 😀 The establishment of the modern state played a vital role in financing these explorations, with Portugal leading the way in the 15th century.
• 😀 The fall of Constantinople in 1453 disrupted Mediterranean trade, further encouraging European powers to seek alternative trade routes to the East.
• 😀 Portugal had the political stability necessary to pioneer the Age of Exploration, supported by alliances between the monarchy and the growing bourgeoisie class.
• 😀 The Portuguese invested in navigational innovations such as the caravela, astrolabe, and maps, largely due to the establishment of the Sagres School of Navigation.
• 😀 The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 divided the world into zones of influence for Spain and Portugal, significantly affecting the exploration and colonization of the Americas and the East.

Q & A

What was the economic situation in Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries that led to maritime expansion?

Europe was facing a severe economic crisis in the 14th century, marked by the Black Death, the Hundred Years' War, famine, peasant revolts, and high mortality. This created a retraction of the European market and a shortage of precious metals for coinage, prompting the need to find new markets, particularly in Africa and the East.

What were the key factors driving the exploration of new maritime routes during the Age of Exploration?

The desire to find new markets for African goods like ivory and slaves, as well as spices and luxury items from the East, was a major driving force. Additionally, the need to bypass the Mediterranean, which was controlled by powerful Italian and Arab fleets, played a critical role in the exploration of new maritime routes.

How did the spirit of the Crusades influence the Age of Exploration?

The spirit of the Crusades, with its emphasis on adventure and religious missions, influenced European explorers by inspiring them to venture into unknown territories and challenge the unknown, particularly in their battles against Muslims, a theme reflected in contemporary chivalric romances.

Why was Portugal the first country to begin maritime explorations?

Portugal had political stability following the expulsion of Muslims by the 13th century, and its alliances with the nobility and the burgeoning bourgeoisie allowed it to fund expeditions. The establishment of the School of Sagres further facilitated the development of navigational techniques and technology.

What role did the School of Sagres play in Portugal's maritime expansion?

The School of Sagres, founded by Prince Henry the Navigator, played a pivotal role by advancing navigational techniques, including the development of the caravel ship, new navigation instruments like the compass, astrolabe, and quadrant, and improved cartography, which greatly contributed to Portugal's maritime success.

How did the geopolitical situation in Europe affect Portugal’s maritime ventures?

The consolidation of centralized states like France and England, along with the expulsion of Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula, provided political stability, which allowed Portugal to invest in exploration. Additionally, Portugal’s location on the Atlantic coast made it more accessible for maritime ventures.

What was the significance of the capture of Constantinople in 1453 for European exploration?

The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 disrupted trade routes through the Mediterranean, making it more difficult and expensive for Europeans to acquire goods from the East. This encouraged Portugal and Spain to seek alternative routes to the East via maritime exploration.

How did the Treaty of Tordesillas influence Portugal and Spain’s exploration routes?

The Treaty of Tordesillas, mediated by the Pope in 1494, divided the world into two spheres of influence between Portugal and Spain. Portugal received rights to territories east of a line 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, allowing it to control trade routes to Africa, India, and the East, while Spain focused on the Americas.

What was the role of Vasco da Gama in Portugal's success in the East?

Vasco da Gama played a critical role by successfully reaching India in 1498. His journey established a sea route to the East, allowing Portugal to establish crucial trade posts and gain control over important trade routes in the Indian Ocean.

What impact did the Age of Exploration have on global trade?

The Age of Exploration shifted global trade away from the Mediterranean and towards the Atlantic, giving rise to the dominance of Iberian countries in global commerce. This also led to the expansion of commercial capitalism, the genocide of indigenous populations in the Americas, and the transatlantic slave trade, which became major consequences of European colonial expansion.