1.3 Technological Advancements and Maritime Exploration

The Age of Discovery saw huge leaps in navigation tech. Better tools like astrolabes and compasses let sailors venture farther from shore. Improved maps and ship designs opened up new trade routes and lands to explore.

Portuguese and Spanish explorers led the charge. Guys like Prince Henry, Columbus, and Magellan pushed the boundaries of the known world. Their voyages kickstarted global trade and colonization that would shape history for centuries.

Navigation Advancements

Instruments for Celestial Navigation and Orientation

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• Astrolabe, an ancient astronomical instrument used for measuring the altitudes of celestial bodies, was adapted for navigation by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century
  • Enabled sailors to determine latitude by measuring the angle of the sun or stars above the horizon
  • Improved accuracy of navigation and allowed for longer voyages away from familiar coastlines (Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean)
• Magnetic compass, a device that uses a magnetized needle to indicate the cardinal directions, became widely used by European navigators during the 13th and 14th centuries
  • Allowed sailors to determine their heading and maintain a consistent course, even in cloudy or foggy conditions
  • Facilitated more efficient and safer navigation, particularly in open waters (Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic)

Advancements in Mapmaking and Geographical Knowledge

• Cartography, the art and science of making maps, underwent significant improvements during the Age of Discovery
  • Portolan charts, detailed navigational maps based on compass directions and estimated distances, became more accurate and widely used (Mediterranean, Black Sea)
  • The introduction of the Mercator projection in 1569 allowed for more accurate representation of the Earth's surface on a flat map
  • Increased knowledge of global geography, thanks to the accounts and discoveries of explorers, led to the creation of more comprehensive world maps (planispheres, globes)

Portuguese Explorers

Prince Henry the Navigator and the Portuguese Exploration Impulse

• Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460), a Portuguese prince, played a crucial role in initiating and sponsoring Portuguese exploration along the West African coast
  • Established a navigation school and research center at Sagres, Portugal, to gather and disseminate geographical knowledge
  • Sponsored numerous expeditions that gradually explored and mapped the African coastline, paving the way for the circumnavigation of Africa (Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde)
• Portuguese explorers, under Prince Henry's patronage, made significant progress in maritime exploration and trade
  • Explored and established trading posts along the West African coast (Elmina, Sao Tome)
  • Developed the caravel, a faster and more maneuverable ship design that facilitated long-distance exploration

Key Portuguese Expeditions and Discoveries

• Bartholomeu Dias (c. 1450-1500), a Portuguese explorer, led the first European expedition to round the southern tip of Africa
  • In 1488, Dias sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, demonstrating the potential for a sea route to India
  • His discovery opened up the possibility of direct maritime trade between Europe and Asia, bypassing the overland Silk Roads
• Vasco da Gama (c. 1460s-1524), a Portuguese explorer, commanded the first successful European voyage to reach India by sea
  • In 1498, da Gama sailed around Africa and across the Indian Ocean, arriving in Calicut, India
  • Established the first direct maritime trade route between Europe and Asia, laying the foundation for Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean trade (spices, textiles)

Spanish Explorers

Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of the New World

• Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), an Italian navigator serving the Spanish Crown, led four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in the European discovery and colonization of the Americas
  • In 1492, Columbus sailed west from Spain, seeking a direct route to Asia, and landed in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola
  • His voyages marked the beginning of the Columbian Exchange, a widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and diseases between the Old World and the New World (horses, sugarcane, tobacco, potatoes)
• The success of Columbus's voyages encouraged further Spanish exploration and conquest in the Americas
  • Subsequent expeditions by Spanish conquistadors led to the colonization of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America (Hernán Cortés, Francisco Pizarro)

The First Circumnavigation of the Globe

• Ferdinand Magellan (c. 1480-1521), a Portuguese explorer serving the Spanish Crown, led the first expedition to circumnavigate the Earth
  • In 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with a fleet of five ships, seeking a western route to the Spice Islands (Indonesia)
  • Discovered and navigated the strait at the southern tip of South America, now known as the Strait of Magellan
  • Crossed the Pacific Ocean and reached the Philippines, where Magellan was killed in a battle with indigenous people
  • One of his ships, the Victoria, completed the circumnavigation under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano, returning to Spain in 1522
• The first circumnavigation demonstrated the global connectedness of the world's oceans and paved the way for future global trade networks
• Caravel, a small, maneuverable sailing ship developed by the Portuguese in the 15th century, was a key technological advancement that facilitated long-distance exploration
  • Caravels were faster, more agile, and could sail closer to the wind than earlier ship designs
  • Used extensively by both Portuguese and Spanish explorers during the Age of Discovery (Columbus, Magellan)