Exploration: Causes and Events from 1450 to 1750 - AP World History Study Guide
Introduction
Hello, intrepid learners! Gear up for an epic voyage through the fascinating period of exploration and expansion between 1450 and 1750. Imagine European explorers as the original travel bloggers, except instead of selfies by the beach, they brought back entire continents on their maps! 🌍📜
Thematic Foci
Exploration during this period is best understood through the lens of two thematic pillars: governance and economic systems.
Governance: Various internal and external factors contribute to state formation, expansion, and decline. To take a metaphorical page out of Machiavelli's playbook, governments maintained order through a range of administrative institutions, policies, and procedures. They obtained, retained, and exercised power in ways that would make even a Game of Thrones episode seem tame.
Economic Systems: Societies don't just spring up and flourish with a magic wand. Economics is at the heart of development, affecting and affected by the ways goods and services are produced, exchanged, and consumed.
College Board Learning Objectives
To ace this topic, you need to grasp the roles and the economics at play during the heyday of European maritime exploration. Here are the key objectives:
- Understand the role of states in the expansion of maritime exploration between 1450 and 1750.
- Explain the economic causes and effects of maritime exploration by European states.
Historical Developments
New state-supported transoceanic maritime explorations emerged during this era like the ultimate reality TV show—but with less drama and more drama, if that makes sense. Here are the key points:
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Portuguese Navigational Skills: Advancements led to increased travel and trade with Africa and Asia, transforming Portugal into a global trading-post empire. They basically invented the first travel agency, conquering seas and mapping the world one nautical mile at a time.
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Spanish Exploration: The voyages of Columbus—and those following him—cranked up European interest in hopping oceans for trade and conquest. The Spanish basically said, "Sure, let's sail to the edge of the world and see what happens."
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Northern Atlantic Crossings: The English, French, and Dutch were also in the game, hunting for alternative routes to Asia. Picture it like a massive treasure hunt, but instead of X marking the spot, there was a lot of "Are we there yet?"
Motives for Exploration
Why did Europeans suddenly decide to turn into globe-trotting explorers? Several reasons:
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The Desire for Wealth 💰: Imagine a treasure hunt, but with actual gold and silver at the end. Europeans were on a mission to find new sources of wealth and open trade routes far and wide.
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The Pursuit of Power 💪🏽: Building an empire and expanding influence was the name of the game. Establishing colonies and controlling trade routes were power plays that made chess look like tic-tac-toe.
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The Quest for Knowledge 🧠: Many explorers were curious souls, out to learn about new lands, cultures, and peoples. They were essentially the nerds who turned geography into the coolest subject ever.
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The Spread of Christianity ✝️: Some explorers had holy goals, looking to spread Christianity far and wide. They thought, "What better way to make friends than by converting some new ones?"
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The Desire for Adventure 🗺: To some, the call of the unknown was irresistible. Think of them as adrenaline junkies but with ships instead of skateboards.
Mercantilism
Mercantilism was like the economic GPS for European powers, guiding their every move. The basic idea was to make the state as rich and powerful as possible. Here’s how they did it:
- Restricting Imports: Domestic industries got VIP treatment, with policies aimed at keeping foreign competition at bay.
- Subsidizing Exports: Governments handed out financial goodies to exporters, making sure their goods were competitive abroad.
- Establishing Colonies: Why settle for local resources when you can plunder foreign lands?
- Regulating Trade: Tariffs and restrictions kept the flow of goods orderly, like a customs officer on a power trip.
- Accumulating Gold and Silver: Precious metals were king. The more they had, the wealthier they were—because shiny things make everything better, right?
Key Achievements in Exploration
Portugal 🇵🇹:
- Sea Route to India (1497): Vasco da Gama pioneered a new route to India, making connections with the spice-rich East more direct and profitable. Think DoorDash for spices, but ancient and with sailboats.
- African Coast Exploration: Portuguese explorers systematically mapped and traded along Africa's coast, turning gold, ivory, and slaves into seriously potent trading assets.
- World Mapping: They didn’t just read maps—they made them, including South America's coast and the Cape of Good Hope.
Spain 🇪🇸:
- Conquering the Americas (1492): Starting with Columbus, the Spanish claimed vast territories in Central and South America, turning them into treasure troves of resources.
- Circumnavigation (1519-1522): Ferdinand Magellan’s crew (completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano) made it all the way around the world, officially proving that Earth wasn't flat and…well, one big trip around the block.
Britain 🇬🇧:
- North America (1497, 1607): John Cabot and later explorers claimed parts of Canada and established the first permanent colony in Jamestown, Virginia. They were basically playing the long game for North America.
- Pacific Exploration: James Cook's expeditions mapped Australia’s east coast, many Pacific islands, and parts of North America, putting British claims on the global map.
France 🇫🇷:
- North America and Arctic: From Jacques Cartier's maps of Canada to French trading posts in the Caribbean, the French were leaving footprints everywhere, including the icy Arctic.
- Africa: French explorers like Tonti and Cavelier were busy picking out prime real estate in Africa for strategic and resource exploitation.
Dutch 🇳🇱:
- East Indies: Establishing colonies and trading posts across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore filled Dutch coffers with spices and gold.
- Arctic: Willem Barentsz’s attempts at finding a northeast passage were less successful but did open up opportunities for Arctic whaling. Yes, they hunted whales. And yes, it was intense.
Fun Fact
Did you know explorers used to think monsters lived at the edges of maps? Fortunately, the only monsters they found were the crew members’ dreadful attempts at sea shanties. 🎶🐉
Conclusion
The period from 1450 to 1750 marked a significant chapter in human history, driven by thirst for wealth, power, knowledge, religious spread, and sheer adventure. The realms they explored, the territories they mapped, and the trade routes they established reshaped the globe, laying the groundwork for the modern world. 🌍📚
Now, set sail with this newfound knowledge and conquer your AP World History exam with the same zeal as those fearless explorers of yore!
