EUROPEAN Exploration [AP World History Review] Unit 4 Topic 2

Heimler's History
30 Oct 201906:34
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThis video explores the reasons behind state-sponsored maritime exploration from 1450-1750, highlighting the motives of gold, God, and glory. It discusses the economic system of mercantilism, the religious impulse to convert others, and the quest for empire-building. The video provides examples of European states like Portugal, Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands, detailing their exploration efforts, the establishment of trading posts, and the impact on indigenous peoples and global trade networks.

Takeaways
  • 🌍 States sponsored maritime exploration between 1450-1750 for resources, religious spread, and national glory.
  • 💰 The economic system of mercantilism played a key role, viewing world wealth as a fixed pie to be shared or taken.
  • 🚢 Exploration was driven by the desire for gold, which led to the establishment of trading posts and increased wealth.
  • 🕊️ The spread of Christianity was a religious motivation for Europeans to explore and convert people in distant lands.
  • 🏆 Glory and empire-building were significant incentives, as controlling large territories brought honor and prestige to states.
  • 🇵🇹 Portugal was heavily invested in exploration, due to its geographic limitations and the success of explorers like Diaz and Gama.
  • 🛳️ The Portuguese established a trading-post empire, focusing on controlling strategic locations and垄断 the spice trade.
  • 🇪🇸 Spain sponsored famous explorers like Magellan and Columbus, leading to the discovery of new lands and acquisition of wealth.
  • 🌽 The Columbian Exchange resulted from European contact with the Americas, significantly impacting both continents.
  • 🇬🇧 The English sought a northwest passage but ended up claiming land in North America, leading to the establishment of colonies like Jamestown.
  • 🇫🇷 The French focused on the northern territories, which eventually became Canada, and developed better relations with the native populations through trade.
Q & A
  • Why did states sponsor maritime exploration during 1450-1750?

    -States sponsored maritime exploration for gold, God, and glory. They sought to increase their wealth by establishing new trading posts, spread Christianity as part of their religious duty, and gain glory through the control of large empires.

  • What was the economic system that dominated Europe during this period?

    -Mercantilism was the economic system that dominated Europe during this period. It viewed the world's wealth as a fixed amount, measured in gold, leading to a competitive pursuit of trade and expansion.

  • How did the concept of mercantilism influence European rulers to expand their trade?

    -Under mercantilism, European rulers believed that by establishing more trading posts, they could increase their share of the world's fixed wealth, leading to more gold for their treasuries and greater national wealth.

  • What role did religion play in the expansion during this era?

    -Religion played a significant role as Europeans, being predominantly Christian, felt a duty to convert people in distant lands. This missionary impulse was one of the driving forces behind the expansion.

  • Which European nation is known for its tight connection between state and exploration, and why?

    -Portugal is known for its tight connection between state and exploration due to its geographical constraints, which forced it to expand into the sea, and its significant investment in maritime exploration.

  • What were the major accomplishments of Portuguese explorers like Bartholomew Diaz and Vasco de Gama?

    -Bartholomew Diaz sailed around the southern tip of Africa, while Vasco de Gama continued further to India, establishing a trading-post empire and claiming territories for Portugal's empire.

  • How did the Portuguese differ from other European states in their approach to empire building?

    -Unlike other states that sought to acquire as much land as possible, the Portuguese focused on establishing a trading-post empire with small amounts of land at strategic locations to control trade and monopolize the spice trade.

  • What were the significant exploration achievements of Spain, and which explorers were involved?

    -Spain sponsored Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first to circumnavigate the globe, and Christopher Columbus, who discovered the Americas and established the basis for Spain's vast empire there.

  • What was the Columbian Exchange, and how did it come about?

    -The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread exchange of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's contact with the Aztec and Inca Empires. It brought about significant changes in both continents.

  • How did the English and French approaches to exploration and empire building differ?

    -The English focused on establishing permanent settlements, such as Jamestown, while the French were more interested in using new territories as trading posts with the natives, leading to better relations and a focus on the fur trade in Canada.

  • What was the Dutch strategy in their exploration efforts, and what was the outcome?

    -The Dutch sent Henry Hudson to seek a northwest passage to Asia. Although he didn't find the passage, he claimed the Hudson River Valley for the Dutch, establishing the foundation for New Amsterdam.

Outlines
00:00
🏴‍☠️ State Sponsorship of Maritime Exploration

This paragraph discusses the reasons why states between 1450-1750 sponsored maritime exploration. The primary motivations were economic gain (gold), religious spread (God), and political prestige (glory). It introduces the concept of mercantilism, where wealth was seen as a fixed pie, and the establishment of trading posts at sea expanded a state's wealth. The paragraph also touches on the religious duty of Europeans to spread Christianity and the glory that came with controlling large empires. It contrasts the large-scale state-sponsored exploration with the traditional explorations by people from all over the world and sets the stage for discussing specific European states' roles in maritime expansion.

05:03
🚢 Notable European Explorers and Their Impact

The paragraph delves into the specific examples of European states and their exploration endeavors. It starts with Portugal, highlighting its geographical advantage and focusing on explorers like Bartholomew Diaz and Vasco de Gama, who significantly expanded Portugal's reach and established a trading-post empire. The narrative then moves to Spain, discussing Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation and Christopher Columbus's encounters with the Aztec and Inca empires, leading to the Columbian Exchange. The paragraph also covers the English search for a northwest passage, the French interest in Canada, and the Dutch claim to the Hudson River Valley, ending with a brief mention of the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Maritime Technology
Maritime technology refers to the advanced tools and techniques used in navigation and shipbuilding that allowed for more efficient and longer sea voyages. In the video, it is highlighted as a key factor that led to the growth of sea-based empires, enabling European states to explore and expand across the globe during the period of 1450-1750.
💡States Sponsorship
States sponsorship refers to the financial and political support provided by a country to certain endeavors, in this case, maritime exploration. The video emphasizes that states sponsored exploration for various reasons, including the acquisition of wealth, the spread of religion, and the pursuit of glory and power.
💡Mercantilism
Mercantilism is an economic system that was prevalent in Europe during the period discussed in the video. It is based on the belief that a nation's wealth is measured by its stock of gold and that one country can only gain wealth at the expense of another. This zero-sum mentality led to a competitive pursuit of trade and colonization.
💡Religious Mission
Religious mission refers to the effort by Europeans, primarily Christians, to spread their faith to other parts of the world. In the context of the video, this religious impulse played a significant role in justifying and motivating the expansion into new territories.
💡Glory and Empire
Glory and empire refer to the prestige and power that a state could gain by controlling vast territories and establishing a large empire. The video discusses how the desire for glory was a motivating factor for states to sponsor maritime exploration and compete with one another in claiming new lands.
💡Portugal
Portugal was a leading nation in the Age of Discovery, with its state-sponsored explorers playing a significant role in maritime exploration. The video highlights Portugal's strategic geographical position and its focus on establishing a trading-post empire.
💡Spain
Spain was another major player in the Age of Exploration, with state-sponsored voyages that led to significant discoveries and the establishment of vast colonies. The video discusses Spain's efforts to find new routes to Asia and the resulting encounters with the Aztec and Inca Empires.
💡English Exploration
English Exploration refers to the efforts by the English state to find new trade routes and establish colonies in the Americas. The video outlines the English attempts to find a northwest passage to Asia and the subsequent claiming of land and establishment of colonies like Jamestown.
💡French Exploration
French Exploration denotes the efforts by the French state to find a northwest passage to Asia and the eventual claiming of land in what is now Canada. The French focus on trading with the natives rather than establishing permanent settlements set them apart from other European powers.
💡Dutch Exploration
Dutch Exploration refers to the maritime endeavors sponsored by the Dutch state, which aimed to find new trade routes and establish colonies. The video highlights the Dutch efforts to find a northwest passage and the eventual claiming of the Hudson River Valley, leading to the founding of New Amsterdam.
Highlights

States sponsored maritime exploration due to the influence of gold, God, and glory.

Mercantilism, the economic system of the time, viewed world wealth as a fixed pie, leading to competition for resources.

European Christians felt a duty to spread their religion, contributing to the religious motivation for exploration.

Controlling large empires brought glory to states, sparking a fierce competition among them.

Portugal's geographical position led to a tight connection between state and exploration.

Bartholomew Diaz and Vasco de Gama were key Portuguese explorers who significantly expanded maritime routes and empire.

Portuguese established a trading-post empire, focusing on controlling the spice trade and charging for passage through their ports.

Spanish explorers Ferdinand Magellan and Christopher Columbus expanded the Spanish empire through maritime exploration.

The Columbian Exchange resulted from Columbus's contact with the Aztec and Inca Empires, leading to significant cultural and biological exchanges.

The English, led by John Cabot, aimed to find a northwest passage to Asia and ended up claiming land from Newfoundland to Chesapeake Bay.

The English established Jamestown, their first colony in the Chesapeake Bay, with lasting consequences.

The French sought a northwest passage and, upon failing, claimed parts of what is now Canada and focused on trading with natives.

The French established Quebec and had better relations with native Americans due to their focus on trade rather than permanent settlements.

The Dutch, led by Henry Hudson, sought a northwest passage and ended up claiming the Hudson River Valley, naming it New Amsterdam.

State-sponsored maritime exploration fundamentally changed global trade, power dynamics, and cultural exchanges.

The period between 1450-1750 marked a significant shift in the scale and nature of exploration, driven by state interests.

Transcripts
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