The Age of Exploration: Crash Course European History #4

Summary

This Crash Course episode explores the pivotal moment in 1453 when the Ottomans captured Constantinople, prompting European kingdoms to seek alternative trade routes. It highlights Prince Henry of Portugal's navigational advancements and the Portuguese exploration along the African coast, leading to the discovery of new markets and the establishment of trading posts. The episode also discusses the Spanish empire's colonial approach, starting with Columbus's voyages, and the subsequent conquests of the Aztec and Inca empires by Cortés and Pizarro. It touches on the technological and navigational innovations that enabled these explorations and the profound impact of colonization and disease on indigenous populations, ultimately reshaping global power dynamics.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453 was a pivotal event that led to European explorations for alternative trade routes.
• 🛳️ The Ottomans' control over southeastern Europe prompted the establishment of a navy and influenced European kingdoms to seek new Afroeurasian trade paths.
• 🧭 Prince Henry of Portugal, known as The Navigator, funded exploration and navigation studies, which led to increased travels along the African coast.
• 🌍 Africa's wealth in resources like food, salt, gold, and slaves attracted the Portuguese, who sought to emulate the riches of Mansa Musa, the Malian king.
• 🏝️ The Portuguese established coastal fortresses and trading stations in Africa, where European men often partnered with African women, crucial for local trade networks.
• 🚢 Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, opening up further exploration into the Indian Ocean for the Portuguese.
• 🛍️ The Portuguese discovered a variety of goods in Southeast Asia and China, such as cottons, porcelain, and tea, which Europeans desired.
• 💰 The Portuguese initially focused on a trading empire, controlling shipping routes, unlike the Spanish who aimed to control land and people for wealth extraction.
• 🌊 Christopher Columbus's voyages were backed by the Catholic monarchs of Spain, who sought to expand their empire and spread Christianity.
• 🛑 Colonization led to significant impoverishment for indigenous communities, including loss of land, life, and cultural heritage.
• 🚢 Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe from 1519-22 demonstrated global transportation and exchange possibilities but also introduced global slavery and warfare.

Q & A

What significant event occurred in May of 1453 that had a profound impact on world history?

In May of 1453, the Ottomans captured Constantinople, smashed its thick walls, and beheaded the Byzantine emperor, which led to the Ottoman control over southeastern Europe and the establishment of a navy.

Why did European kingdoms and empires need to find new paths to Afroeurasian trading routes?

Ottoman domination of southeastern Europe forced European kingdoms and empires to seek alternative routes for trade to bypass the Ottoman-controlled territories.

What was the role of Prince Henry of Portugal in the exploration of new sea routes?

Prince Henry, also known as The Navigator, funded and encouraged exploration, the study of navigation, and the development of new tools to aid in navigation, which contributed to the Portuguese exploration along the Mediterranean's southern shore and the Atlantic coast of Africa.

Why were the Portuguese interested in venturing southward along the Atlantic coast of Africa?

The Portuguese ventured southward along the Atlantic coast of Africa in search of vast wealth, including food, salt, gold, and slaves, which were abundant in Africa at the time.

Who was Mansa Musa and how did he inspire the Portuguese explorers?

Mansa Musa was a Malian king who made a spectacular hajj to Mecca in 1324-1325 with an entourage of 60,000 people, including 12,000 slaves and large quantities of gold. His wealth and grandeur served as an inspiration for the Portuguese to seek similar riches in Africa.

What was the significance of the Canaries in the context of Portuguese exploration?

The Canaries were island clusters located along the African coast where the Portuguese made their way, kidnapping local people to sell into European slave markets and establishing stone fortresses that also functioned as trading stations.

How did the presence of European men and African women in trading stations contribute to European trade networks?

Many European men partnered with African women, who were often traders themselves, to start families. These women played a crucial role in local markets and regional trade networks, providing essential connections to trade for European nations.

What was the outcome of Bartolomeu Dias rounding the Cape of Good Hope in 1488?

Bartolomeu Dias's rounding of the Cape of Good Hope in 1488 allowed the Portuguese to venture further afield into the Indian Ocean, opening up new trade opportunities and routes.

What were the differences between the Portuguese and Spanish empires in terms of their approach to exploration and colonization?

The Portuguese empire was initially a trading empire, focusing on controlling shipping and trading routes with small and agile ships known as caravels. In contrast, the Spanish empire, beginning with Christopher Columbus's voyages, was based on colonies, controlling the land and people to extract wealth.

How did the Iberian explorers' Catholic faith influence their colonization efforts?

The Iberian explorers' Catholic faith provided an incentive to set sail, and their colonization model included the idea that colonies existed for the benefit and enrichment of the colonizers and, secondarily, to convert human souls to Christianity.

What was the significance of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494?

The Treaty of Tordesillas, sponsored by the Church, provided a permanent line of demarcation to settle disputes between Spain and Portugal over the territories they were claiming, effectively dividing the New World between the two powers.

What were the long-term impacts of European colonization on indigenous populations in the Americas?

European colonization led to the death of a significant portion of the indigenous American population due to violence, enslavement, and European diseases like smallpox and measles. It also resulted in the loss of land, life, religious beliefs, and community assets.

How did the influx of wealth from colonization reshape the power dynamics in Europe?

The influx of wealth from colonization transformed Spain and Portugal from poor kingdoms to astonishingly rich ones, reshaping power dynamics in Europe and impacting life everywhere with the global reach of microbes, ideas, and other elements.