 The rise to power of the Islamic Empire cut
CHAPTER 5 Europe’s access to the prosperous trading
Lesson 1: Early European Explorations and
Colonization
Interrelation among the Peoples of the Ancient
World
 Trade laid the foundation of civilization in
one locality to another, linked the people
from Africa to Europe, from Europe to Asia
 Valuable trade goods of the East; spices
such as pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg,
and ginger – became the most demanded
products among the Europeans which was
used in the preservation of meat especially
during winter season
 Other valuable trade goods; gold, slaves,
silver, silk
 Trade goods were brought by caravans
across Asia to the Middle East and onwards
to the trading post in the Mediterranean
 Europe-Asia trade was carried indirectly
through 3 old trade routes
1. Northern route
− had its main center along the
Mediterranean Sea
− Caravans passed through
northern China and traversed
through Bokhara and Samarkand
around the Caspian Sea and
ended up to Constantinople
2. Middle route
− Began from Malacca to the
Indian Ocean, passing through
the ports of India, to the Persian
Gulf through Persia (now Iran)
and to Acre, Antioch and other
Syrian ports.
3. Southern route
− Was by water travel from
Malacca to India through the
Indian Ocean, crossed the Red
Sea, to Alexandria.
centers.
 The Muslims controlled the 3 trade routes
that ended the European’s monopoly of
trade
 Great loss in profits led to discovery of new
trade. This period came to be known as The
Age of Discovery and Explorations.
 The Age of Discovery and Explorations-
- Europeans dared to cross the uncharted
seas and discover new lands
- The map of Europe expanded with the
inclusion of discovered lands
- Unlike the ruthlessness and drastic use
of force in the conquered lands
employed by ancient empire builders,
that of the modern times was
diplomatic in character
- The discovery of the Philippines was
highly significant as it gave Europeans a
new trade route to the orient and
opened vast horizons of the world, with
ends meeting at a point, by then Spain.
Factors That Triggered the Age of
Exploration
Renaissance Period
- The Middle Ages- spiritual fervor was so
strong, focused on the preparation of
life beyond death, thus, giving less
emphasis on what the natural setting
offered.
- Also, at this period, warlike Germanic
tribes plundered Europe and destroyed
rich cultural heritage of the time
- The monks from various monasteries
kept hold of the remaining manuscripts
of the ancient time great thinkers.
- The monks, “The Light of the Dark
Ages,” translated the Greek and Latin
writings and had preserved it.
- Europe’s Dark ages came to an end - Mariners’ compass- show direction
when the barbarians settled down and more accurately
had been Christianized. - Astrolabe- used to determine the
- Renewed interest in worldly matters position of the ships from its latitude
and the beauty of the present life (north or south of the equator) by
caught the attention of Europeans. observing the position of the sun, moon,
- As a mindset that spread in Europe, the and stars.
period came to be called Renaissance, - Age of Exploration was an offshoot to
meaning rebirth. the full blossoming of the Renaissance
- It began in Italy, 1350, when Italian
scholars study books preserved in the
monasteries. The Rise of Powerful Nation States
- Beginning the 16th Century, scientists
- Economic prosperity brought about by
had focused on the study of the
the expansion of trade gave birth to a
heavenly bodies first undertaken by the
new economic system called capitalism
Greek and Roman scholars.
- The rise of capitalistic states witnessed
- They questioned the validity of
the establishment of a broad
traditional theories
networking of the banking system.
- False beliefs about geography were
- Wealth or capital fell in the hands of
superseded with theories with theories
private individuals and powerful
in consonance to the scientific method
monarchs.
of inquiry.
- Huge profits were put to a halt when
- Europeans grew wild in imagination as
the Muslims took away from rich
what lies ahead outside of their
European countries the monopoly of
continent
trade.
- Major breakaway came when the
- Another trade route leading to the
scholars made use of the Aristotelian
sources of valuable Asian goods
postulate that the world is round.
particularly from China, Japan and India.
- It led to the idea that the East could be
- With sufficient capital, monarchs and
reached.
wealthy merchants funded the
- Renaissance period was an offshoot to
exploratory ventures to the East.
the scientific revolution as Europe
underwent remarkable technological
progress.
The Medieval Travelers
- Portugal took the lead in the inventions
of maritime aids and instruments. - The Church took great interest to
- Caravels, new ocean-going ships, establish a foothold in Asia out of its
replaced the rower-propelled galleons. mission to spread the Christian faith.
- Caravels was armed with new weapons - In 1245, Father John Carpini, a
such as cannons and guns and had Franciscan was sent by Pope Innocent IV
smaller chances of being lost at sea. as ambassador to the Great Khan’s
- Most important navigational court at Karakorum. The Book of
instruments; mariners’ compass and Tartars; account of his travel, prompted
astrolabe. King Louis IX of France to send Fr.
 William of Rubruck, another Franciscan
to Karakorum.
- Marco Polo- most well known European
traveler to the East
-