Age of Exploration (1400 1700)

Beginning in the 1400s, European explorers

went on voyages of discovery. They looked for
wealth, land, knowledge and adventure.
Additionally, they wanted to spread Christianity.
There were advancements in cartography, weapons,
navigation tools and ships which made their
journeys possible. Their expeditions had a major
impact on Europe and on the lands they explored.
The Portuguese investigated trade
opportunities in Africa, opened a new trade route
between Portugal and India, and claimed Brazil.
Christopher Columbus, sent by the Spanish,
discovered the Americas. The Spanish destroyed the
Inca and Aztec Empires and gained control of them.
England, France, and the Netherlands also sent
explorers to North America. For the Europeans, the
Age of Exploration greatly increased their
knowledge of the world.

The Age of Exploration









Motives for Exploration









Development of new technologies











Prince Henry the Navigator









Portuguese Exploration









Vasco da Gama









Pedro Cabral









Spanish Exploration











Christopher Columbus









Amerigo Vespucci










Vasco Nunez de Balboa









Ferdinand Magellan









Later Spanish Exploration and Conquest










European Exploration of North America









Results of Exploration