European Exploration and Trade Quiz

The period in history between the 1400s and 1600s when European explorers sailed across the globe, exploring new lands, seeking trade routes, and spreading their influence.

The desire for wealth, especially from trading spices and other luxury goods from Asia, was a driving force behind European exploration.

A desire to find new and faster trade routes to Asia, bypassing the existing routes controlled by Muslims and Italians, was a major motivation for exploration.

The belief that spreading Christianity to new lands was a noble cause, led some explorers to seek out territories to convert to their faith.

Explorers were motivated by a sense of adventure, curiosity about the unknown, and a desire to make groundbreaking discoveries.

The Renaissance, a period of intellectual revival, spurred a spirit of exploration and scientific inquiry among Europeans.

Crucial inventions like the compass and astrolabe helped sailors navigate the seas accurately.

The caravel, a small but agile ship, was a key development that enabled long-distance voyages and exploration.

The period when European explorers sought new routes to Asia to trade spices and other goods.

The desire to find a new sea route to Asia, avoiding the existing routes controlled by Muslims and Italians.

Portugal was the wealthiest European power at this time.

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, divided the world between Spain and Portugal.

Spain benefited more from the division of the world, gaining a vast empire in the Americas.

The Spanish were motivated by acquiring riches and converting people to Christianity.

The Aztecs were defeated by the Spanish through superior technology, forming alliances with native tribes, and spreading diseases to the population.

The Dutch East India Company, Dutch West India Company, Dutch King/Government, Dutch Navy, and Dutch Merchants were all stakeholders involved in the Dutch colonization effort during the 16th and 17th centuries. They were motivated by the desire for wealth, power, and the dismantling of the Portuguese trade monopoly in Southeast Asia.

The Dutch colonization efforts were a reaction to their limited homeland, seeking new resources and trade opportunities to maintain their economic dominance.

The Dutch explored and colonized various regions in the Caribbean, South America, and elsewhere, establishing settlements and trading posts.

Mercantilism is an economic system that emphasizes national wealth accumulation through trade surpluses, government intervention, and colonization.

European countries challenged the Treaty of Tordesillas by defying its territorial divisions and establishing settlements in disputed territories.

The three main reasons for European exploration were the pursuit of wealth (gold), religious zeal (God), and the desire for adventure and fame (glory).

The Chinese rudder, triangular lateen sails, navigational instruments like the astrolabe and magnetic compass, and knowledge of winds and currents enabled explorers to venture further and navigate more effectively.

Prince Henry the Navigator, a Portuguese royal, played a crucial role in supporting exploration initiatives. He established the Navigation Court in the early 1400s to develop maritime skills and find a water route to India.

Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, successfully sailed around Africa to India (1497-1499), establishing trade routes and making Portugal a wealthy power.

Christopher Columbus, a Spanish explorer, believed he could reach Asia by sailing west. He landed in the Caribbean in 1492, thinking it was part of Asia. This discovery led to the colonization of the Americas by European powers.

Ferdinand Magellan, a Spanish explorer, led a voyage around the world, proving that the Earth was round. He departed in 1519 and only 18 survivors returned in 1522.

The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the world into territories controlled by Portugal (east) and Spain (west). This treaty aimed to avoid conflicts between the two powers during their expansion.

European explorers, particularly the Portuguese and Spanish, played a significant role in shaping the world. They explored new lands, established trade routes, and ultimately led to the colonization of the Americas.

A system of economic policies that prioritized a nation's wealth through trade and the accumulation of gold and silver. It emphasized exporting more goods than importing, controlling colonies for resources, and promoting national power.

The exchange of goods between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, creating a new interconnected global economy. European manufactured goods went to Africa, exchanged for enslaved people who were then sent to the Americas for labor in exchange for raw materials, which were then transported back to Europe.

The difference between a nation's exports and imports. A favorable balance of trade meant a nation exported more goods and services than it imported, resulting in an increase in gold and silver reserves.

A new world economy emerged due to the trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. This trade involved European manufactured goods, enslaved people from Africa, and raw materials from the Americas.

The forced migration of millions of people from Africa to the Americas for labor on plantations. The transatlantic slave trade played a significant role in the development of the Americas and the global economy.

The Taino people, indigenous to the Caribbean, faced oppression, disease, and forced labor under Spanish rule. Smallpox epidemics devastated their populations, leading to their demise by the mid-16th century.

A system of economic thought that prevailed during the 17th century. It believed that a nation's prosperity depended on its wealth, which was measured by gold and silver. Colonies were seen as essential sources of raw materials and markets for manufactured goods.

The Spanish military, equipped with superior technology, was able to subdue and exploit the Taino people. This dominance contributed to the decline of indigenous societies in the Americas.

The shift from gold mining to plantation agriculture as a primary source of wealth in the Caribbean. The labor demands of sugarcane plantations led to the massive importation of enslaved people.

The introduction of foreign crops and animals by Europeans to the Americas had a significant impact on local ecosystems and diets. Some introductions, like wheat and cattle, thrived, while others, like smallpox, had devastating consequences.