CHAPTER 23: TRANSOCEANIC ENCOUNTERS AND GLOBAL CONNECTIONS --- EXPLORATIONS Reason for exploration- God, Gold, Glory* Benefits of exploration- enabled mariners to chart ocean basins + develop accurate understanding of geography / merchants + mariners make global communication/transportation/exchange = $$ Vasco de Gama [1497] Portugal > India [christianity + spices] Prince Henry the Navigator [lived 1394-1460] [1415] sponsored voyages down w. African coast Christopher Columbus [1492] proposed sailing to Asia using western route reached cuban islands, claimed India exploration paved way for settlement, conquest, and exploitation of native americans Ferdinand Magellan [1519-1522] first world circumnavigation under Spain Captain James Cook [1768-1780] 3 expeditions in pacific