**1. Overview of the Age of Discovery:**
– Portuguese exploration of the African coast began in 1418.
– Bartolomeu Dias reached the Indian Ocean in 1488.
– Christopher Columbus discovered a continent uncharted by Europeans in 1492.
– Amerigo Vespucci’s name was given to the discovered lands.
– The Treaty of Tordesillas divided the world into two regions of exploration.
**2. Impact of European Exploration:**
– European exploration led to the Columbian exchange.
– New plants, animals, diseases, and cultures were exchanged.
– The era saw the rapid decline of American Indian populations due to diseases.
– Enslavement, exploitation, and military conquest of native populations increased.
– European culture and technology spread globally.
**3. Criticism and Challenges of the Age of Discovery:**
– Indigenous peoples challenge the concept of discovery and colonial claiming.
– Exploration has been framed for colonial ventures and exploitation.
– The term ‘Age of Exploration’ has been criticized.
– The concept of contact has been used to shed light on colonialism.
– The period is seen as an unfinished and diverse project.
**4. Technological Advancements and Geographic Knowledge:**
– Adoption of the magnetic compass was crucial for navigation.
– Ship advancements led to lower long-distance shipping costs by the 14th century.
– The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea described trade routes in the Indian Ocean.
– Muhammad al-Idrisi created a world map in 1154.
– Europeans used a dry compass with a needle on a pivot.
**5. European Expansion and Exploration Expeditions:**
– Europeans discovered Australia in 1606, New Zealand in 1642, and Hawaii in 1778.
– Portuguese trade disruption was a main objective of early exploration voyages.
– French, English, and Dutch entered the race of exploration after 1495.
– Russian exploration and conquest of Siberia and Alaska from the 1580s to the 1730s.
– English expeditions to the western coasts of North and South America started in 1497.
