Age of Discovery

On this expedition you will learn about the age of discovery of the New World, beginning in the 15th Century. It also was a time that saw the decline and gross mistreatment of native people by these new colonists.

This story was created for the Google Expeditions project by Vida Systems, now available on Google Arts & Culture

A map of the southern hemi-sphere shewing the discoveries made in the Southern Ocean up to 1770, 1772 (1772) by James CookState Library of New South Wales

On this age of discovery tour you will learn about some discovery explorers: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Hernan Cortes and James Cook who voyaged the world seeking new countries to build new empires.

The Age of Discovery

The Age of Discovery is a period in time when the world was explored by mainly European mariners beginning in the 15th century. 

Continents were discovered and new trade routes were developed, which changed the fortunes of entire countries and built new empires using the wealth of the New World. 

Contrary to popular belief, scholars at the time knew the Earth was round; this theory was accepted since Roman times, however the size of the Earth was hotly debated. 

Santa Maria

The discovery of the New World was fueled by the desire to reach the lucrative Spice Islands. Christopher Columbus was trying to discover a western route to Asia from Europe when he became the first white person to encounter North America.

Victoria

Ferdinand Magellan was also attempting to find another direct route to the Spice Islands when his expedition completed the first circumnavigation of the world in 1521. Magellan himself was killed in the Philippines before he was able to complete the journey. 

Caravel

Hernan Cortes wanted to access the vast wealth of South America, a continent Europeans encountered while trying to find another way to the Spice Islands. Cortes’ expedition led to the downfall of the huge Aztec Empire, which stretched across Mexico.

Endeavour

James Cook was the last European explorer to discover an already inhabited continent. Sailing the Royal Navy research ship Endeavour on a scientific expedition, Cook arrived in Australia in 1770 after a 3–year journey, claiming the continent for England. 

Christopher Columbus

Possibly the most well–known of the Age of Discovery explorers, Christopher Columbus was the first European to begin trade with people living in North and South America. 

However, Columbus himself maintained until his death in 1506 that the land he visited over 4 voyages was in fact the east coast of China and not a previously unknown land to the Europeans.

Christopher Columbus

Determined to find a western ocean passage to Asia he explored the coastline of North and South America over 4 voyages. With each voyage he treated native people poorly, demanding food and supplies and capturing many Native Americans to sell as slaves.

Gold Fever

Columbus wanted to discover riches to take back to Europe. Every time he encountered Native Americans he demanded to know where gold was located and even forced some residents to mine for gold. The relentless demands for gold and supplies infuriated Native Americans. 

The Columbian Exchange

Although Columbus never achieved his original mission (finding a route to Asia), he changed the world forever by opening trade in the New World. Vegetables such as corn, tomatoes, and potatoes were introduced to Europe. 

Unfortunately diseases were also exchanged, decimating Native American populations.  

An Unfair Advantage

By Columbus’ 4th voyage the native people of Cuba were tired of the Spaniards’ treatment and their endless demands,  and refused to supply the voyage. Columbus was aware that a lunar eclipse was due and threatened to steal the moon if they didn’t comply. 

When the lunar eclipse occurred, the native people believed that Columbus indeed had the power to remove the moon and complied with his demands.

Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who led an expedition that was the first to circumnavigate the world in 1522. One part of the route he discovered, now called the Strait of Magellan, is still used today in modern voyages.

Spanish Voyage, Portuguese Leader

Magellan was commissioned by the Spanish monarchy to find an alternative route to the highly profitable Spice Islands (Indonesia). Spain had lost its customary route to the Portuguese by order of Pope Alexander VI and desperately wanted to continue the lucrative trade.

The Spice Islands

Spices were possibly the most valuable commodity in trade during medieval times. They were used in cooking, preserving meat, making medicines, embalming the dead and even making perfume. Some spices were sometimes worth more than gold, and only grew in the islands of Indonesia.

The First Circumnavigation

Magellan set sail from Spain with 5 ships in 1519 believing that there was a short distance between South Africa and the Spice Islands. He soon discovered a vast ocean between South Africa and the Spice Islands, which he called the Pacific Ocean. 

Magellan was killed in the Philippines in 1521 and the voyage was ultimately completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano who returned to Spain with the last remaining ship, the others lost to wreckage and mutiny.

A Controversial Figure

Being Portuguese, many Spanish men didn’t trust Magellan and 2 mutinies had to be quelled during the voyage. The Portuguese king was furious that his countryman would undertake a voyage for Spain and possibly attempted to have Magellan assassinated. 

Hernan Cortes

Hernan Cortes wanted to explore and exploit the riches of the newly discovered Americas, as did other Spanish conquistadors (conquerors). During his teens and early twenties he traveled on other voyages to South America and amassed land and wealth working for Spanish settlers.

When word arrived about a nation rich in both silver and gold, Cortes convinced the governor to allow him to try and conquer the land. Just before leaving the governor changed his mind. Cortes, in open mutiny, started the voyage anyway in 1518. 

A Ruthless Leader

During his voyage Cortes made himself Governor of Cuba (overthrowing the previous Spaniard governor) and even sank his ships to prevent men from escaping. His aim was to take over the largest city, ruled by Montezuma, an Aztec chief. 

To do this, Cortes aligned himself with rival tribes.

Behind Every Great Man

One of the 20 women surrendered to Cortes was Malintzin. Historians argue that the conquest of the South Americans may not have been achieved without Malintzin. She spoke several local languages and was able to translate for Cortes and help him in negotiations.

The Last Aztec King

Cortes’ arrival may have coincided with an Aztec prophecy which claimed that a white god would come from the east. Soon after, relations soured and Cortes took Montezuma prisoner, ruling through him. 

During this time a Spanish force arrived to take Cortes prisoner for defying orders. Cortes and his men won this battle and returned to the city to find it in civil war. 

An Accidental Exchange

One of the accidental arrivals to the Americas was the disease smallpox. The native population had no immunity and the Aztec population was decimated, with over 3 million Aztecs killed. Cortes then built a new city in the rubble, now known as Mexico City.

James Cook

Captain James Cook was an excellent cartographer who created detailed maps of New Zealand, Hawaii, and the east coast of Australia as well as successfully navigated the unknown waters of the Pacific Ocean. 

His first voyage arrived in Botany Bay, Sydney over 200 years after the colonisation of the Americas by Europeans in 1770. Unlike the Americas, Australia was a harsh country without the obvious riches such as gold and food. 

Terra Australis

James Cook sailed from England with the mission to search the Pacific for the fabled continent Terra Australis. After completing the first circumnavigation of New Zealand by a European, he traveled west and discovered the east coast of Australia. 

Gweagal People

Cook’s first encounter with Australia’s natives was with the Gweagal people. He noted that they wore minimal clothing and adorned themselves with white paint. 

During the 8 days the Endeavour was anchored in Botany Bay, warriors stood on rocks nearby threatening the Englishmen with spears. 

A Passive Claim

After this encounter the local Aboriginals ignored the new arrivals, continuing their daily life, seeming to pretend the Europeans weren’t there. It is theorized that this behavior was a message to the Europeans that the land belonged to the Gweagal without being openly hostile.

KangarooNaturalis Biodiversity Center

A Unique Land

The continent of Australia broke away from the rest of the world around 40 million years ago, allowing unique flora and fauna to evolve. Over 90% of the animals found in Australia are found nowhere else in the world.

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