Exploration & Imperialism Flashcards
Expansionism
The actions and attitudes of a a state or country whose goal is to expand it’s power and territory
What are the 3 main motivation for European exploration?
Trade (Economy)
Gold supply (Economy)
Christianity (Beliefs)
The motivation of trade
Renaissance Europeans spent a lot of money on goods from the far east
the goods were very expensive because they travelled for long distances
Goods were transported to large trading centers then sold to Indian merchants
Europeans believe a that a sea route to the east would give them more control over the price of goods
Hoped to get rich by selling the goods in markets of Europe
Trade had become dangerous because of the armed conflicts/powers shifts
Europeans wanted to seek water routes to protect their exotic goods
The motivation of gold supply
In the renaissance there was a shortage of currency
European needed more bullion
Coins were exchanged for goods a money but gold was more valuable than silver
European mines ran out of gold and silver so they searched in other places
The motivation of christianity
Idea of spreading christianity was popular
Rulers believed they were following Jesus’ instructions by converting non-christian’s to christian’s (others had ethnocentric views)
Many people had different religions (polytheism belief in more than one god)
What were some other explorations of exploration?
Fame/glory
Desire for adventure
Curiosity
Personal missions (missionaries or religious missions)
Astrolabe
Used the North Star or the sun to calculate latitude
Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator
Cross staff
Used to measure the altitude of the north star above the horizon on to determine angle
Back staff
Used to measure the altitude of the sun to determine latitude
Compass
Used for finding the direction a ship is travelling
Caravel
The Portuguese developed a new type of ship (caravel)
Was able to travel on long voyages
Imperialism
The extension of power over its territories including its resources and people
How was imperialism apart of an expansionist’s worldview?
During the age of discovery europeans began to realize the abundant wealth that could be theirs through colonization of land
Some built so many colonies across the globe that they built empires (Britain and Spain)
Ethnocentrism
The perspective that one’s culture/ religion is superior to other’s
How does ethnocentrism relate to the Europeans?
Colonization is traditionally recorded by the colonizer
Colonies are referred to as new lands even though the Indigenous people had been living there for years and had a complex culture
Europeans considered anyone who did not follow their guidelines as savages or barbarians and consider themselves as civilized superiors
