Geschiedenis pww chapter 1-2
2.1 Land Ahoy
The sixteenth century is seen as the start of a new era. Before this century the Europeans survived a
period of approximately one thousand years called the Middle ages. These were times in which
Europe was often in turmoil and many parts of the world were in conflict with one another. It was also
a time in which Christianity became the most important religion in Europe. The sixteenth century was
to become a century filled with huge changes, we now call it the age of discoverers and reformers. The
Europeans started exploring the world around them and found out that it was quite a bit bigger and
was a whole lot more diverse than they had ever dreamed. Africa and Asia are explored and parts of
the world that are completely new to the Europeans, like North- and South-America, are
(re)discovered and then conquered. During this age the people in Europe start to change. People
started looking at the world around them and how this changed their outlook on the world.
2.2 In search of a new route
Exotic spices
From the year 1000 the economy in Western Europe starts to grow. This is due to an increase in
agricultural products. As a result of that the trade between cities and countries flourishes. Throughout
the whole of Europe cities, roads and rivers seem to pop up out of the ground. Because of this increase
in trade, the trade in luxury products rises as well. Italian cities like Venice and Genoa become
important trade cities with the Middle East. This is because of the crusades. The number one product
that is traded are spices. Pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove are in high demand. The spices make
food taste better and last longer. They don't grow in Europe and so they need to be brought to Europe
from Asia.
However, it's not easy for the spices to reach Europe. First ships bring the products to the Middle-East,
then the Turks trade the spices in the Italian trade cities. From there the spices are brought to places all
over Europe. Everybody on this trade route has to earn money and so spices are extremely expensive.
The start of exploration expeditions
The trade routes from the far East bring more than exotic spices. The stories from these far-away lands
inspire a lot of Europeans to travel in search of undiscovered land. Many Europeans, who had grown
up fearing God, didn't dare make such a journey. The few that did try were missionaries, like the
Fleming William of Rubruck. Unfortunately we don't know any more about him than that he traveled
to Mongolia to spread the word of God.
But during the time of the crusades more and more people want to take part in an expedition. Once the
Kingdom of Jerusalem is recaptured by the Turks, who raise the price for the trade of spices, the
amount of wannabe expeditioners grows. Several other explorers also leave to trade and explore. One
of these people is Marco Polo, the famous Italian explorer who traveled to Persia, India and China in
the thirteenth century.
, In the course of the next few centuries the number of travellers grows. These are a few reasons why
the number of exploration expeditioners grew:
Economy: The products from the east make a lot of money.
Religion: The Europeans desperately wanted to spread the word of God all over the world.
They believe this is their holy mission.
Politics: European monarchs get a chance to expand their power. This is called expansion.
The more land they ruled over elsewhere, the more influence they could have over Europe.
Tools: In the fifteenth century a lot of new inventions become available to make travel by sea
easier. Explorers use tools like the compass and the astrolabe.
Knowledge: In the fifteenth century new maps of the world become available. Thanks to the
contacts between the Arabic world and Europe knowledge from the antiquity becomes more
available again during the crusades. The Arab people seem to have translated a lot of Greek
writings that the Europeans had believed to be lost forever.
2.3 The discovery of the New World
The travels of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus, an Italian by birth but at the time living in the Portuguese city Lisbon, has an
idea for a new overseas route to Asia. His whole life Columbus has been active in the trade industry
and he knows the problems that come along with the trading of spices. The Portuguese explorers are
quite successful but they haven't yet found a new route to Asia. Also, a route past the long coast of
Africa is expensive and a hard trip to make. From ca. 1480 Columbus starts looking for support for his
exploration expedition. He doesn't want to travel east through the Atlantic Ocean, but he plans to go
west. His plan is based on an idea a Greek scientist, Claudius Ptolemy had. He reasoned that it should
be possible to sail west to get to Asia. But there was more. Columbus also based his idea on a map by
Toscanelli, that stated that Asia was straight across from Europe.
To be able to start his voyage Columbus needs permission and finances from a monarch. He needs a
country that will protect the discoveries he hopes to make, and thinks that the Portuguese king could
be a good partner. Columbus asks king John II for support. But his request is denied for two reasons.
First of all, the king doesn't believe in Columbus' plan. Secondly he doesn't agree with the (extremely)
high reward Columbus demands for his discosveries. Columbus doesn't give up. He decides to go to
the Spanish council. But when he gets there he finds out they don't want to support him either. Neither
do the French or the English councils.
But Columbus remains convinced that his mission can be a success and he doesn't give up. In 1492 the
Spanish queen Isabella I finally grants Columbus permission to start his expedition. On September 6th,
1492, Columbus begins his westward route across the Atlantic Ocean.
The weeks at sea
Before the expedition, which would use 3 ships, could leave a lot has to happen in preparation for the
journey. The main preparation is filling the ships with crew and provisions. The journey is going to be
long and arduous and no one has an idea if they're going to come across food on their way. The ships
depart from de Canary Islands, with the Santa María in front. The ships head westward into unknown
territory.
2.1 Land Ahoy
The sixteenth century is seen as the start of a new era. Before this century the Europeans survived a
period of approximately one thousand years called the Middle ages. These were times in which
Europe was often in turmoil and many parts of the world were in conflict with one another. It was also
a time in which Christianity became the most important religion in Europe. The sixteenth century was
to become a century filled with huge changes, we now call it the age of discoverers and reformers. The
Europeans started exploring the world around them and found out that it was quite a bit bigger and
was a whole lot more diverse than they had ever dreamed. Africa and Asia are explored and parts of
the world that are completely new to the Europeans, like North- and South-America, are
(re)discovered and then conquered. During this age the people in Europe start to change. People
started looking at the world around them and how this changed their outlook on the world.
2.2 In search of a new route
Exotic spices
From the year 1000 the economy in Western Europe starts to grow. This is due to an increase in
agricultural products. As a result of that the trade between cities and countries flourishes. Throughout
the whole of Europe cities, roads and rivers seem to pop up out of the ground. Because of this increase
in trade, the trade in luxury products rises as well. Italian cities like Venice and Genoa become
important trade cities with the Middle East. This is because of the crusades. The number one product
that is traded are spices. Pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove are in high demand. The spices make
food taste better and last longer. They don't grow in Europe and so they need to be brought to Europe
from Asia.
However, it's not easy for the spices to reach Europe. First ships bring the products to the Middle-East,
then the Turks trade the spices in the Italian trade cities. From there the spices are brought to places all
over Europe. Everybody on this trade route has to earn money and so spices are extremely expensive.
The start of exploration expeditions
The trade routes from the far East bring more than exotic spices. The stories from these far-away lands
inspire a lot of Europeans to travel in search of undiscovered land. Many Europeans, who had grown
up fearing God, didn't dare make such a journey. The few that did try were missionaries, like the
Fleming William of Rubruck. Unfortunately we don't know any more about him than that he traveled
to Mongolia to spread the word of God.
But during the time of the crusades more and more people want to take part in an expedition. Once the
Kingdom of Jerusalem is recaptured by the Turks, who raise the price for the trade of spices, the
amount of wannabe expeditioners grows. Several other explorers also leave to trade and explore. One
of these people is Marco Polo, the famous Italian explorer who traveled to Persia, India and China in
the thirteenth century.
, In the course of the next few centuries the number of travellers grows. These are a few reasons why
the number of exploration expeditioners grew:
Economy: The products from the east make a lot of money.
Religion: The Europeans desperately wanted to spread the word of God all over the world.
They believe this is their holy mission.
Politics: European monarchs get a chance to expand their power. This is called expansion.
The more land they ruled over elsewhere, the more influence they could have over Europe.
Tools: In the fifteenth century a lot of new inventions become available to make travel by sea
easier. Explorers use tools like the compass and the astrolabe.
Knowledge: In the fifteenth century new maps of the world become available. Thanks to the
contacts between the Arabic world and Europe knowledge from the antiquity becomes more
available again during the crusades. The Arab people seem to have translated a lot of Greek
writings that the Europeans had believed to be lost forever.
2.3 The discovery of the New World
The travels of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus, an Italian by birth but at the time living in the Portuguese city Lisbon, has an
idea for a new overseas route to Asia. His whole life Columbus has been active in the trade industry
and he knows the problems that come along with the trading of spices. The Portuguese explorers are
quite successful but they haven't yet found a new route to Asia. Also, a route past the long coast of
Africa is expensive and a hard trip to make. From ca. 1480 Columbus starts looking for support for his
exploration expedition. He doesn't want to travel east through the Atlantic Ocean, but he plans to go
west. His plan is based on an idea a Greek scientist, Claudius Ptolemy had. He reasoned that it should
be possible to sail west to get to Asia. But there was more. Columbus also based his idea on a map by
Toscanelli, that stated that Asia was straight across from Europe.
To be able to start his voyage Columbus needs permission and finances from a monarch. He needs a
country that will protect the discoveries he hopes to make, and thinks that the Portuguese king could
be a good partner. Columbus asks king John II for support. But his request is denied for two reasons.
First of all, the king doesn't believe in Columbus' plan. Secondly he doesn't agree with the (extremely)
high reward Columbus demands for his discosveries. Columbus doesn't give up. He decides to go to
the Spanish council. But when he gets there he finds out they don't want to support him either. Neither
do the French or the English councils.
But Columbus remains convinced that his mission can be a success and he doesn't give up. In 1492 the
Spanish queen Isabella I finally grants Columbus permission to start his expedition. On September 6th,
1492, Columbus begins his westward route across the Atlantic Ocean.
The weeks at sea
Before the expedition, which would use 3 ships, could leave a lot has to happen in preparation for the
journey. The main preparation is filling the ships with crew and provisions. The journey is going to be
long and arduous and no one has an idea if they're going to come across food on their way. The ships
depart from de Canary Islands, with the Santa María in front. The ships head westward into unknown
territory.
