The role of naval knowledge and improved ship-building in European expansion
From 1000 throughout 1500, the Old World Web went through period of consolidation, with limited expansion. McNeill and McNeil stated that ‘’The Old World Web was homogenizing force, but it was far from homogenous’’ (156). However, from the middle of 15th century, it is already possible to see advancements in science that were the basis of future European expansion. Also, due to enclosed trade routes between Asia and Europe, Europeans had to explore new routes via sea (McNeill and McNeill 157). From 1450 to 1800, Europe was rising military, politically and economically – it was the beginning of ‘’age of commerce’’. However, the early European expansion was only made possible due to newly acquired navigational instruments and naval knowledge – better understanding of ocean and wind currents, navigational instructions – and innovate ship-building technique, which
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Coastal piloting relied on known terrestrial and hydrographic features, heavily limiting sailing distance, but newly utilized dead reckoning was based on ability and knowledge to determine vessel’s direction, speed and skill to estimate leeway, depending on wind or ocean current (Paine 380-381). This knowledge, firstly acquired by Spanish and Portuguese, followed by Dutch and English later, allowed them to avoid limitations of coastal piloting and begin to traverse open seas, only limited by provisions and weather conditions. However, naval knowledge and new instruments were not enough for Europeans to expand via sea. Ships were still lacking manoeuvrability, they were too heavy, required an extensive crew to maintain it, though new ship-building techniques were being developed at the same time that greatly increased European maritime
The small environment no longer had enough resources to sustain such a large population which motivated them to subdivide and move on. They expanded southward and eastward. They developed seasonal rounds of activity and movement. Climate change expanded the temperate forest throughout North America allowing them to become more familiar with their land. Early Americans. Soon the domestication of plants and animals established. They developed different cultures traditions diets and languages. During the late fifteenth century, Europeans developed the navigational technology and ambitions which allowed them to explore and conquer the world's seas. The Atlantic Ocean once a barrier became a bridge to vast lands and people. The Europeans traveled to the West Indies and India by traveling around Africa. The new discoveries transformed Europe into one of the most dominant continents. European Christians first felt surrounded by their Muslim neighbors. The Muslims were more a more powerful religion extended to North Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. The Europeans Christians got an opportunity to break out of the Muslim world and spread their beliefs to the newly discovered world and search for the trade riches such as gold, silks, and
The Early Modern Era saw great change in the field of naval technology. Exploration and the desire to expand trade fueled the development of new, more effective naval vessels. These vessels, in turn, contributed to the growth of worldwide trade and interconnection that marked the period.
The effects of the spreading of scientific and technological innovation between 1000 and 1450 were felt across Eurasia. These phenomenon resulted in higher degrees of interregional contact and the entrance
Cipolla, Carlo M. Guns, sails and empires; technological innovation and the early phases of European expansion, 1400-1700. Manhattan, Kan. : Sunflower University Press, 1985.
Empire had been the word of the day. Germany, Italy, and Japan were working to catch up to the British and their two-hundred-year head start. Military theory and technology was changing. It introduced a new view of international geopolitics: the flags and politics of nations followed the economy of a nation, not the other way around, which had long been the accepted European idea (Reeder 29). Control of the sea was considered vital to all national interest: for the sake of communication to territorial possessions and for, most importantly of all, trade. But technology had also advanced. Coaling stations were now required at various intervals all over the world to keep the steam navies of the day going (Chidsey 15).
During the 15th century Europe had numerous changes. The population expanded rapidly which gave rise to new classes of merchants. European nations were very wealthy when it came to spices. Therefore, they traded them on the land route from Asia. These land routes were controlled by the Turkish Empire, which lead to many problems for the countries who were trying to trade these spices and acquire other valuables. This then steered them to begin searching for other routes of trade to essentially cut out the “middle man”. A race then began to erupt between many European countries such as Portugal, Spain, France, and England. These four countries all wanted to be the first to discover new land. However, Portugal pulled ahead and sailed along
The expansion of Western Europe started with the Iberian phase. Spain and Portugal, the two countries of the Iberian Peninsula, had a short-lived yet important role in European expansion. European expansion then turned to Western Europe. Western Europe consists of the Dutch, French, and British. While Western Europe was exploring new worlds overseas, the Russians were expanding westward across all of Eurasia.
During the European exploration, which was in the 15th and 16th century, explorers were sailing around to explore, trade, spread, or get new things. These places were throughout Europe (Spain, Portugal, etc.), America (The colonies), and through Asia. These explorers were sailing through the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. These explorations started from Portugal with Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama and this time of exploration spread to different countries and other explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Hernando Cortez and more. All this exploration was all done with new sailing innovations and navigation schools (which was created by Prince Henry) which taught people to explore and sail across the sea. Some major points of European exploration were the discovery of the new world (America), which was a new place never explored by the Europeans. The exploration of the coastlines of the Indian Ocean and the China Sea, as well as explorers trying to find new and faster sea routes to different places, which was also important. European exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries was motivated by God (spreading Christianity), gold (wealth), and glory (becoming glorious for your country
Press, 1989, pp. 113-114. 1-35. The sandbox of the sandbox. Cipolla, Carlo M., Epilog from “Guns, Sails, and Empires: Technological Innovation and. the Early Phases of European Expansion, 1400-1700” Sunflower Univ.
Age of Explorations was a time of discovery of the new world during the 15th through 17th century. Many Explorers were in search for new passage ways, new trading ports, new land, new spices, and riches. The three explorers discussed in this paper is Henry Hudson, Jacques Cartier, and Francisco Pizarro. Henry Hudson was an explorer whose main purpose was to find a route to Asia from Europe, he had a series of three voyages trying to achieve this. Jacques Cartier was sent to find riches and a route to Asia as well. Francisco Pizarro served on an expedition, which he discovered the Pacific Ocean.
1.) As a whole, the entry of the Europeans into the Asian sea trading network had relatively little effect on the entire system. The entry of the Europeans into the network led to the establishment of new trade routes in the Indian Ocean to the southern Atlantic near the Cape of Good Hope. In water, the Europeans were superior militarily, but on land against fortified Asian settlements, the Asians far surpassed the Europeans technologically. The only superior items that the Europeans had were small, fast sea vessels such as caravels, clocks, and weaponry.
The Age of maritime exploration in Europe represented a new era of global inter-connectivity and interaction. Due to technological development, Europeans were capable to forging into new and formerly undiscovered territories. The Europeans growing desire to satisfy their demand for luxurious good as well as the desire to discover precious materials like silver and gold served as a particularly crucial motivation for maritime exploration. Maritime exploration also introduced Europeans to new culture, foods, and peoples.
Stott, Anne. "Europe 1700-1914: A Continent Transformed." europetransformed.blogspot.com. University of London, 7 March 2011. Web. 30 November 2013.
The Age of Exploration began as a result of new technologies that guided explorers during sea voyages. Explorers used many tools and technologies during The Age of Exploration, to explore and make discoveries. Technology and tools that explorers used, included, caravels, compasses, astrolabes, and even sponsors. A sponsor is a person who gives money for an undertaking, such as a voyage. A sponsor would also provide money for materials needed for the voyage, such as, caravels, and other necessities. A caravel is probably the most important material needed for a voyage. A caravel is a ship designed for long voyages. Caravels have both square sails, and triangular lateen sails. However, they each provided/allowed different things. Square sails provided power, when lateen sails allowed quick turns. The compass, a Chinese invention, allowed sailors to track their direction. On the other hand, an astrolabe, an ancient Greek invention, improvised by the Arabs, would measure the angle of the stars above the horizon. This would help sailors find their s...
The European expansion brought many good things into this world, but only at the price of Native American lives and culture. Many people believe that the European expansion was great, and that in part has somewhat a truth to it. Without the European expansion, we wouldn't be where we are today and same with other European nations. But due to it (European expansion), a brilliant culture was destroyed with the hands of Europeans themselves.