The Age of Discovery , where European countries pioneered new routes and made large-scale voyages for the purpose of colonizing newly discovered lands. ..
From the 15th century to the 17th century, mainly Spain and Portugal Was done by.
The beginning of the Age of Discovery
During the 15th and 17th centuries, European countries Asia and Africa / Americas New route to Was pioneering.
It all started with Spain and Portugal was.
Asian spices , which were in high demand in European countries at the time The Age of Discovery began with an attempt to purchase directly on a route other than via the Mediterranean Sea, which was not under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
Background of the Age of Discovery There are three major points as.
- Ottoman Empire
- Spice demand
- Compass development
Ottoman Empire
It was founded as an Islamic country at the end of the 13th century.
In the 16th century, it reached its heyday and dominated the three continents of West Asia, Eastern Europe and North Africa. As a result, the Mediterranean Sea, which was also a transit point connecting Asia to Europe, was controlled by Ottoman Islamic merchants, and high tariffs were imposed on trade goods imported into Europe.
High demand for spices
Around this time, carnivorous culture spread in Europe. , The demand for spices has increased. Mainly pepper, glove, nutmeg Used for seasoning and preserving meat.
However, those spices were not native to Europe and bought high tariffed spices through Islamic merchants.
Improvement of compass
China (Song) Invented in compass Has been improved in Europe and evolved into a more elaborate one. This allowed the ship to move in a more accurate direction, allowing for longer voyages.
Routes pioneered by European countries
With spices being traded at high prices under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, Spain and Portugal, who wanted to get cheap spices by another route and make a profit, pulled down the new compass and separated from the Mediterranean route. I set out on a voyage to get spices on the route.
Portugal's route development
Famous as a pioneer of the Age of Discovery is Prince Henry the Navigator =[ Prince Henry ] It seems that it was also called. The prince is mainly African [ gold ] Has pioneered a route on the west coast of Africa.
After the death of Prince Henry, we aim to develop the Indian route in earnest.
1488 Bartolomeu Dias With the support of King John II of Portugal, travels south on the west coast of the African continent and arrives at the Cape of Good Hope. In addition, 1498 Vasco da Gama with the support of King Manuel But Cape of Good Hope He reached Calicut on the west coast of India and pioneered his long-cherished route to India.
Spain's route development
Spain, on the other hand, crosses the Atlantic Ocean to Portugal via Africa. I tried to find a route to Asia.
1492 Columbus with the support of Queen Isabella of Spain West Indies San Salvador Will arrive at. However, this is not India, which was the goal, and the Americas that no European country knew at the time. However, Columbus continued to believe that this was India until his death.
The discovery of the New World was later certified by Amerigo Vespucci.
1519 Magellan Maluku Islands around the west with the support of the King of Spain [ Indonesia ] Departure to develop a route to. In the Maluku Islands, the origin of gloves and nutmeg is [ fragrance islands ] Was called.
Departing from Spain, Magellan discovered the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America and crossed the Pacific Ocean for the first time as a European, but when he stopped in the Philippines, he suffered trouble with the locals and died.
His men continued their voyage after Magellan's death and returned to Spain in 1522 via the Maluku Islands, making this voyage his first round-the-world voyage.
Influence of the Age of Discovery
Economic hub from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic coast ...
Venice and Genoa in northern Italy, which prospered as hubs of eastern trade, declined, and the economic center of Europe moved to Atlantic coastal cities such as Serivia in Spain and Lisbon in Portugal.
The change in the commercial and trade system on a global scale [ Commercial Revolution 】Is called.
Decline in monetary value and collapse of feudal society
Spain, which had colonized the Americas, 1545 Discovered and monopolized the silver mine, and brought a large amount of silver to his own country. However, since silver was used as money in Europe at that time, a large influx of silver caused the value of money to decline.
When the value of money goes down, prices go up. In reality, prices are said to have risen two to three times, which is called the [price revolution].
The big damage to the decline in the value of money is that the value of money decreases in the aristocrats, which is the same as the decrease in income, which reduces the power of the aristocrats and causes the feudal society in Europe to collapse. rice field.
New ingredients from the Americas spread
potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, corn, cocoa, chili peppers, peanuts, tobacco Ingredients that have never existed in Europe have been brought from the Americas.
In particular, corn will be taken home by Columbus and cultivated in Spain, and then spread to India, China, Africa and Southeast Asia.
Impact on Japan during the Age of Discovery
Portuguese first came to Japan during the Age of Discovery was.
1543 A Chinese ship with a Portuguese on board was washed ashore on Tanegashima, and at this time, the technique of guns was introduced to Japan.
1549 Is a Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier who was a Christian missionary in Asia. Came to Japan, and Christianity spread to bring new values and ways of thinking that were not found in Japan.
Later, during the Warring States period, Portuguese and Spanish traders started Nanban trade with Japan, and glassware such as gunpowder, woolen fabrics, glasses, cups, and mirrors from Europe [ Beadro ] Was imported.
This Age of Discovery can be said to have had a major historical change, affecting food culture and lifestyle on a global scale.