Essay --

Main Ideas Europeans Explore the East Section 1 1. The factors that helped spur European exploration were the new spirit of adventure and curiosity brought on by the Renaissance, the desire to be rich, the desire to spread Christianity, and advances in sailing. 2. Portugal’s Prince Henry conquered Ceuta, a Muslim city in North Africa. Prince Henry and his men discovered stores with exotic spices and large quantities of gold, silver, and jewels in Ceuta. Once he returned to Portugal, him main goal was to find the place in the East where the treasures came from while spreading Christianity. Eventually, he founded a navigation school to teach his students how to improve such skills as mapmaking, instrument making, and shipbuilding. 3. The significance of Dias’ voyage was to spread Christianity while serving His Majesty, to grow rich and "give light to those who were in darkness" while da Gama explored the East African coast and its rare silks and gems. He returned to Portugal with spices, such as pepper and cinnamon, and provided Portugal with a direct sea route to India. 4. The Dutch were so successful in establishing a trading empire in the Indian Ocean because they were a leading sea power with the largest fleet of ships in the world and they established the Dutch East India Company which minted money, made treaties and raised its own army. The Dutch seized the port of Malacca and the Spice Islands which helped Amsterdam become a leading commercial center and controlled the Cape of Good Hope which was a resupply stop. China Limits European Contacts Section 2 5. China did not undergo widespread industrialization because the idea of commerce conflicted with China's Confucian beliefs and their economic policies favored agricult... ..., Tokugawa Ieyasu was upset by the success of missionaries converting the Japanese and felt that the missionaries were belittling Japanese traditions and beliefs in order to convert the Japanese to Christianity. Sometimes the missionaries became involved with politics and tried to reform the local governments. Also, by 1612, the shogun banned Christianity and tried to get rid of all Christians in his country. 5. The Manchus earned the respect of the Chinese by upholding China's traditional Confucian beliefs and social structures. One leader, Kanghi personally led troops to the northern border to protect the people against Mongols threatening there and also reduced government expenses and taxes, offered intellectuals government positions, invited Jesuits at court where he learned about developments in medicine, science and mathematics that were popular in Europe.