Europeans had limited exploration before 1400s but interest grew due to a desire to spread Christianity, gain wealth from trade, and new sailing technologies. Motivations included God, glory, and gold where Europeans wanted to convert non-Christians, gain prestige from discoveries, and access valuable trade goods like spices that previously passed through Italian and Muslim merchants. Technological advances like the caravel ship design, astrolabe, and magnetic compass enabled long voyages and navigation needed to pursue these goals of exploration.

1. Ch. 3 Section 1

2. Europeans were exposed to other
lands before the 1400’s but for the
most part were not interested in
exploration.

3. the Crusades in the
Holy Lands in the
1100’s and the Italian
trader Marco Polo
reached the court of
Kublai Khan in
China. This all
changed in the early
1400’s with
Europeans’ desire to
spread Christianity,
gain wealth from
trade combined with
new sailing
technology spurred
an age of European
exploration.

4. God, Glory and Gold
The desire for new
sources of wealth
was the main
reason for European
exploration. Spices
such as nutmeg,
ginger, cinnamon
and pepper were
introduced during
the Crusades and
demand only grew
after the wars’ end.

5. The Muslims and Italians controlled
the trade of goods from East to West.
Muslims sold Asian goods to Italian
merchants, who controlled trade
across the land routes of the
Mediterranean region.

6. By the 1400’s
European
merchants (as well
as the new
monarchs of
England, Spain,
Portugal and
France) tried to
bypass the Italian
merchants in order
to increase their
profits.

7.  The desire to spread Christianity
also fueled European exploration.
The Crusades left hostilities
between Christians and Muslims.
 Christians believed that it was
their duty to continue to fight the
Muslims and to convert non-
Christians throughout the world.
Explorers like Bartolomeu Dias
(Portugal) believed that they
should serve God by converting
non-Christians and in the process
become rich by direct trade with
the converted.

8. Technology
Technological advances enabled the
explorers to pursue their goals of “God,
glory and gold.” Before the 1400’s, ships
could not sail against the wind, making
long trans-oceanic voyages nearly
impossible.

9.  The caravel was a new
ship built in the 1400’s
which was sturdier
than its predecessors.
It allowed ships to
navigate the rough
open seas. Moreover,
this vessel had
triangular shaped sails
which allowed it to sail
against the wind.

10.  Navigational techniques
improved as well. The
astrolabe (perfected by
the Muslims) was a brass
circle with carefully
adjusted rings marked off
in degrees. This was used
to sight the stars and
determine how far north
or south of the equator
the ship was.

11. A magnetic
compass (invented
by the Chinese)
enabled sea
captains to
accurately track
their direction.