Contextualization
The European maritime expansion took place between the 15th and 17th centuries, a period of great discoveries that significantly transformed the world. During this period, several European countries, among which Portugal and Spain stood out, launched maritime expeditions with the aim of exploring new territories, establishing trade routes, seeking wealth, and expanding their territories and religious influence. This era marked the beginning of globalization, as it allowed interaction between peoples from different continents.
This expansion had as its main consequences the colonization of vast regions of the world by Europeans, the massacre and enslavement of indigenous peoples, the exchange of goods, and the spread of diseases, among many others. Through this project, we will explore the different aspects of European maritime expansion, from an approach that values collaboration, research, and critical analysis.
Introduction
Before we embark on our journey, we need to understand the main concepts and events that marked this period. Maritime expansion was largely driven by technological advances in navigation, the search for new trade routes, and the greed for wealth and gold.
The pioneering role of Portugal and Spain in this process is a widely discussed and accepted fact. The Treaty of Tordesillas, for example, is an important document that exemplifies the dispute of these nations for the possession of new lands. The navigational capacity, combined with mercantile drive and territorial ambition, allowed the Portuguese and Spanish to venture into the sea, facing unknown dangers and paving the way for modernity.
To deepen your knowledge about European maritime expansion, we suggest the following sources of information:
Let's discover more about this fascinating period of our history?
Practical Activity: Navigating through the Age of Maritime Expansion
Project Objective
Students will build an interactive map of European maritime expansion to understand the main processes, events, and navigation routes. Additionally, they should conduct a detailed research on the motivations, consequences, and political, socioeconomic, and cultural implications of the great navigations.
Project Description
They will form groups of 3 to 5 students to carry out the activity. The activity should be completed within one week, and each student should dedicate two to four hours to complete the tasks.
Firstly, students should create a map on paper (or digitally), representing the world during the age of great navigations. The main navigation routes, discovered and colonized territories, and the most relevant European countries in the process should be represented.
After creating the map, students should conduct an in-depth research on the maritime expansion process. This research should be organized and recorded in a way that can be consulted later.
Necessary Materials
- Large format paper or digital map creation program,
- Colored pens, markers, or coloring materials,
- Internet access for research,
- Books and other reference materials.
Step-by-Step
- Formation of groups and initial discussion for task division.
- Initial research for historical contextualization.
- Creation of the map with the main navigation routes, discovered and colonized territories, and the European countries involved.
- In-depth research on the motivations, consequences, and implications of maritime expansion.
- Preparation of the final report, which should include: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography used.
Deliverables
At the end of the project, each group should deliver the constructed map and the report. The map should be properly labeled and provide an overview of the main events of maritime expansion.
The report should contain historical contextualization, the theory behind the topic, a detailed explanation of the activity, discussion of the results obtained, as well as the sources consulted.
- Introduction: In this section, students should present the theme, its relevance, real-world application, and the project's objective.
- Development: They should explain the theory of maritime expansion, detail the activity, the methodology used, and present the results.
- Conclusions: In this section, students should summarize their main points, explain the learnings obtained, and draw conclusions about the project.
- Bibliography: List of sources used for the work.
