HIST 1011 Lecture 16: The-Beginning-of-European-Expansion
Document Summary
More about european relative weakness rather than strength: spain and portugal cut off from main trade routes in indian ocean, didn"t produce things that other traders wanted to buy just used gold and silver. Rise of ottoman in eastern mediterranean: controlled vital trade routes. Does africa end: long term goal to reach indian ocean by getting around africa. They couldn"t invade asian countries, but they could control the ports. Malacca between malaysia and indonesia, a chokepoint. Goal was to create spice trade control. Japan prohibited portuguese to come to japan not going to work. Tried to bring christianity (true faith) to asia: anyone opposing de gama"s voyages are devils, also tried to combat islam, not hinduism. Morocco an islamic enemy at portugal"s doorsteps. King of portugal decided to attack morocco: army and king was slaughtered by moroccans, king sebastian had no kids, spanish king ruled portugal and spain together temporarily. Conquest of america was a castilian thing.
