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Period: Jan 1, 1400 to
European Trade and Travel
Timeline -
Feb 5, 1400
Caravel Is Developed
The new ship, the caravel, was developed by the Portugese so that their fleets could have an easily maneuverable and had a large storage capacity. Their developement was a marker for the beginning of European exploration and trade. Change, it is the beginning of a new era, and with new technology. -
Feb 5, 1415
Portugese Exploration in Africa
The Portugese king, Henry funded exploration to Africa. Upon arrival, the Portugese traded cheap trinkets for slaves, gold, salt, and other goods. They discovered that it was far more profitable to buy directly from whoever they want to trade with. Continuity, in this particular situation, the change is the continuity itself. The caravel was developed and travel was started. The shift toward the European age of exploration had already begun and is now taking full swing. -
Feb 5, 1450
Europeans Cut Out the Middlemen - Continuity, continuing the exploration
Because the Europeans did not yet have sailing ships that could traverse the high seas well until the caravel, the Europeans could not trade directly with the Orient by sea; their solution to this problem was obviously to go by land. The problem with that though, was that they had to go through the Middle East gunpowder empire- the Ottomans, in order to reach the silk rode. The Ottomans required heavy tribute and the Europeans no longer wanted to pay this, so they sailed around the Ottomans. -
Feb 5, 1492
Colombus Sails
Christopher Colombus, a genoese sailor working for Spain, sailed the opposite way of Spain to the West with the idea that the earth was round, and he would come back around to India. He did in fact create new trade routes, just not the intended ones. Instead of finding India, he found the Carribean and Americas which would soon create the Columbian Exchange. Continuity, because the Europeans continue to explore and even into new continents. -
Feb 5, 1494
Line of Demarcation Formed
In 1494, Portugese and Spanish relations decreased drastically due to land squabbles. The pope suggested the use of the line of demarcation splitting the land of the Portugese and Spanish in the treaty of Tordesillas. The treaty was signed and the Portugese ended up with colonies on Brazil and the Spanish in Peru and the West. Change because this is the first major dispute between two exploring nations. -
Feb 10, 1498
European Experience at Calicut
The European explorer, Vasco de Gama, reached Calicut in 1498. The Indian port had mch to offer including spices, jewels, and material goods, but the price was high, and the Europeans did not want to pay those prices. Eventually they would come back to the East, with force. Continuity, the Europeans are continuing to learn new things and explore. -
Dutch Colonize Cape of Good Hope
Dutch colonize the Cape of Good Hope. It served as a trading outpost for the Europeans in their Indian and Orient trade. Located in South Africa, it also produced goods such as sea food and gold. Continuity, though this was the first colony on the African continents, there had been colonies on other continents.. -
Opium Trade
Opium trade occurred as a result of the high tea price in China. The British found that it was a good product and pushed it into China to addict its people and leverage the opium for tea. It was successful, but they literally had to force it on the Chinese via war. Change, here the Europeans start to resort to violence to win them profits in the East. -
Europeans react with force
The Europeans did not like the high prices and lack of demand for Euro-good that the Asians had, so they began to take small islands there by force. Starting in 1700s they took many of the Indonesian isles and fed off of small diaspora kingdoms. Change, because previously the Europeans just expanded, and did not rely so much on force to trade, though they did some what in the Americas. -
Intro/thesis
The Europeans had three primary trade routes from the late 15th century to the early 19th, those included the slave trade from Africa, the silver and sugar trade fro the Americas, and the trade with the Orient for expendible commodities such as porcelain, spices, and tea. The need for profit and the demand for new products spawned eploration. -
Conclusion
The Europeans expanded dramatically due to the need for profit and new demand for goods. From this expansion sprung new colonies, and taken new countries later on. Destruction of old civilizations brought life to new European ones. Trade during this period was the base of the Industrial Revolution. Overall, I think this was a change in world history because the Europeans got out of the middle ages and stepped into the age of exploration, prompting new nations to soon rise and the industrial age,