Four Steps (Eras) to Exploration

European Heritage

What is happening?

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This week and next we are going to add "characters" to our story (U.S. History), Europeans arrived in the Americas with a set of ideas and values, that have helped shape our heritage as well.

​Impact of Judeo-Christian Tradition

• ​Two religions shaped European beliefs and values, ultimately they impact United States history as well.

• ​Judaism

  • ​nomadic people from the Middle East (known as Israelites)

  • ​1st religion known to teach the belief in one God (Monotheism)

  • ​Judaism -held to the view that no one was above the law.

​RELIGION

​Christianity

• ​A Jewish teacher named Jesus began to preach around an area known as the Sea of Galilee (Isreal)

• ​His teachings emphasized love, mercy and forgiveness, and most importantly equality.

• ​The Roman rulers saw Jesus as a political threat and had him arrested and killed.

• In the end, it became the most popular religion in the Roman Empire

​Much like Islam, Christianity spread through war and trade - It also shared a common "homeland" in the Middle East.

Multiple Choice

What ultimately helped European culture, especially Christianity, spread throughout most of the continent?

• Trade and War

• Wind and other weather conditions

• Other cultures travelled to Rome to learn and educate themselves.

• Aliens

Four Steps (Eras) to Exploration

​Let's start a timeline! As European culture expanded and grew, a series of events helped to bring them together with the Western Hemisphere (Our side of the planet), It has something to do with the "Turtles".

​The 4 Steps (stages) to Exploration

The Middle Ages

The Crusades

The Renaissance & Reformation

The Age of Exploration

​Sometimes looking at history through smaller "layers" helps you understand the bigger picture.

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Europeans didn't just wake up one day and say...Hey let's sail across the Atlantic Ocean, it took stages to get them to that point and that is why we are looking at these "eras" today.​

​The Middle Ages

• 500-1350

  • After the fall of Rome

  • Governments followed a system known as Feudalism 

  • Rulers granted part of their land to “lords”

  • Lords provided military and financial assistance

  • Catholic Church was the most powerful institution

  • While learning did take place, it was definitely slowed.

  *Think of the Middle Ages as being in a closet with the lights off! The world around you is small and offered limited opportunities.

Multiple Choice

After the fall of Rome, the Catholic Church became the most powerful institution in Europe?

• True

• False

​The Crusades

• ​Religious wars fought between Christians and Muslims over the “Holy Land”

  • The territory was sacred to both 

    • Muhammed and Jesus both taught and lived there.

  - For the first time Europeans looked beyond the “Manor” and were asked to travel miles away from home

  - Europeans expanded their cultural knowledge and had access to new goods and foods. (Spices, Oranges, Rice, Dates) 

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Multiple Choice

The holy land that was fought over during the Crusades was important to the Christians but not the Muslims.

• True

• False

​The Reformation

• ​Attempts to reform (change and improve) the Catholic Church created the Protestant Churches is known as the Reformation.

  The Reformation began in 1517 when a German monk named Martin Luther protested against the Catholic Church. His followers became known as Protestants.

  Many people and governments adopted the new Protestant ideas, while others remained faithful to the Catholic Church. This led to a split in the Church.

Open Ended

What long-term impact might having new non-catholic churches have on Europeans?

​The Renaissance

• “Rebirth of Learning” 1300’s - 1600’s

  • The Crusades increased travel and trade that made Europeans more curious about the world.

  • Countries like Italy and areas on the Mediteranian Sea experienced the Renaissance first.

  • Art, Architecture, Literature, Music, Science and Tech were all impacted

  • Printing Press (improved) led to an explosion of writing and books

  • I always think of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” because they are named after Renaissance thinkers.

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Open Ended

Why might countries located near water experience the Renaissance first?

​The Age of Exploration

• The Renaissance, the rise of nations, and the expansion of trade set the stage for an era of exploration

  In the 1400’s Prince Henry (the Navigator) brother of the King of Portugal set up a school (center) for exploration

  • Mathematicians, geographers, and sea captains taught people what they needed to know about navigation and mapmaking.

  New Tech - Magnetic Compass, Astrolabe (all made sailing better!)

• New skills, the Portuguese led the way, sailing around Africa.  Vasco da Gama passed the tip of Africa and helped to establish trade routes with India.

Multiple Choice

What nation led the early attempts at Exploring beyond Europe?

• Spain

• England

• France

• Portugal