I. The Age of Exploration
A. Causes
1. Spice Trade
a. Needed for bland food- pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.
b. Very lucrative- spices were sometimes used instead of money
c. Spices were found in Asia
d. Spice trade was conducted over land and controlled by the Italians and Muslims
e. Explorers looked for sea routes to Asia
2. Improvements in navigation and shipbuilding
a. Compass and astrolabe from Asia
b. Improvements in Mapmaking
c. Caravel- new versatile ships
3. Iberian Peninsula freed from the Muslims / looked for new trade routes to Asia
a. Portugal goes to Asia by going around Africa
b. Spain attempts to go to Asia by going West across the Atlantic
i. Colombus discovers the America’s
