European Exploration: Motives and Methods
30 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What was a primary motivation for European exploration in the 1400s and 1500s?

  • To find trade routes to Asia (correct)
  • To convert indigenous populations to Christianity
  • To establish colonies in Africa
  • To spread democracy and freedom

How did Marco Polo influence European interest in exploration?

  • He highlighted the riches of Asia through his travels (correct)
  • He promoted the use of advanced navigation tools
  • He encouraged the establishment of trade unions
  • He was the first European to sail around Africa

Which technological invention helped explorers navigate the oceans?

  • The astrolabe (correct)
  • The sextant
  • The compass rose
  • The GPS

What was the primary use of spices in Europe during the Middle Ages?

<p>To preserve food and create medicinal treatments (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did European merchants want to bypass Arab traders?

<p>To maximize their profits by dealing directly with Asian suppliers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What misconception did most Europeans have about the Earth's geography before the Renaissance?

<p>The Earth was flat and bounded by oceans (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did ancient maps and books play during the Renaissance?

<p>They provided knowledge that improved mapmaking and exploration (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Silk Road during the Middle Ages?

<p>It was a primary route for trade between Asia and Europe (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of Ferdinand Magellan's voyage?

<p>To find a western route to Asia (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which treaty divided South America between Spain and Portugal?

<p>Treaty of Tordesillas (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What name did Magellan give to the body of water he encountered that was particularly calm?

<p>Pacific Ocean (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which explorer claimed much of eastern Canada for France in 1534?

<p>Jacques Cartier (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the hardships faced by Magellan and his crew during their voyage?

<p>Shortages of food and fresh water (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which explorer attempted to find a northern route to Asia in 1524?

<p>Giovanni da Verrazzano (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

After exploring, which two nations focused initially on issues at home before resuming overseas exploration?

<p>France and England (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Magellan's expedition ultimately achieve?

<p>First known circumnavigation of the world (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the most complete source of information about the known world in the 1370s?

<p>The Catalan Atlas (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant contribution did the invention of the printing press have on exploration?

<p>It made maps more accessible to sailors. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which kingdom took the lead in exploring new trade routes to Asia in the early 1400s?

<p>Portugal (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Prince Henry of Portugal known for?

<p>Financing voyages of exploration. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What achievement is Bartolomeu Dias known for?

<p>Reaching the southern tip of Africa. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of Columbus's voyage in 1492?

<p>To find a western sea route to Asia. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the island that Columbus first landed on?

<p>San Salvador (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Columbus's misunderstanding about the lands he discovered?

<p>He thought he was in Asia. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Columbus describe his first encounter with the Taino people?

<p>As welcoming and friendly. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of Spanish conquistadors following Columbus's first voyage?

<p>To take control of newly discovered lands. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What technology improved the maneuverability of ships during the Age of Exploration?

<p>Triangular sails developed by Arab traders. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT one of the four powerful kingdoms in Europe by the end of the 1400s?

<p>Italy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Amerigo Vespucci suggest about Columbus's discoveries?

<p>They may have been lands separate from Asia. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What motivated the Spanish king and queen to support Columbus's expedition?

<p>To seek new trade routes following their victory over Muslims. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Search for New Trade Routes

The practice of finding new trade routes to bypass existing middlemen and secure direct access to desired goods.

Silk Road

A trading network that connected Europe to Asia, allowing for the exchange of goods and ideas.

Technology and Exploration

The use of science and new inventions to improve navigation and exploration.

Astrolabe

An ancient instrument used by sailors to determine latitude, or the distance north or south from the equator.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Compass

A device that uses a magnetized needle to indicate north, aiding in navigating by sea.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Renaissance

A period of renewed interest in classical knowledge and culture, leading to advancements in science, art, and exploration.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Advanced Mapmaking

Improved mapping techniques that allowed for more accurate representations of the Earth and surrounding lands.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Earth is Round

The belief held during the Middle Ages that the Earth is round.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Catalan Atlas

A map made in the 1370s showing the known world, it was the most complete source of information at the time.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Ptolemy

An ancient Greek mapmaker who drew maps for his Geography book. He recorded the latitude and longitude of over 8,000 places.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Longitude

The distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Rudder

A movable blade at the back of a ship, turned to steer it.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Prince Henry the Navigator

This influential European prince supported voyages of exploration, even though he never sailed himself. He sponsored many voyages along the West African coast.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Bartolomeu Dias

Portuguese explorer who sailed to the Southern tip of Africa in 1488, opening the way for a sea route to Asia.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese explorer who sailed around the tip of Africa and reached India in 1498. This opened a sea route to Asia.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Christopher Columbus

An Italian explorer who believed he could reach Asia by sailing west. He landed in the Caribbean but thought he had found the East Indies. He never realized he had discovered the Americas.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Taino

The Indigenous people Columbus met in the Caribbean

Signup and view all the flashcards

Conquistadors

Spanish soldiers-explorers who traveled to the Americas to conquer and claim land for Spain. They were often ruthless and brutal.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Ferdinand and Isabella

King and Queen of Spain who sponsored Columbus's voyage and eventually the Spanish conquest of the Americas.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Portugal, Spain, France, and England

The most powerful kingdoms who led exploration in the late 1400's

Signup and view all the flashcards

San Salvador

The island where Columbus landed in 1492 and claimed it for Spain.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Hispaniola

The largest of the Caribbean islands, Columbus explored this and it holds the modern countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Signup and view all the flashcards

New Ships

The new ships used by European explorers in the late 1400s and early 1500s, fitted with triangular sails and rudders, making them more maneuverable.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Treaty of Tordesillas

A treaty signed in 1494 between Spain and Portugal that divided South America between the two kingdoms. This agreement established the boundaries of their respective colonial empires in the New World.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is a Strait?

A narrow body of water that connects two larger bodies of water. Magellan found the Strait of Magellan, allowing his crew to navigate from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is Circumnavigation?

The crew of Ferdinand Magellan was the first known group to sail all the way around the world. This feat marked a significant milestone in global exploration and demonstrated the Earth's spherical shape.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Why is the Pacific Ocean called 'Pacific'?

Magellan named the Pacific Ocean after experiencing its calm and peaceful waters, as 'Pacific' means 'peaceful' in Latin.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Who was John Cabot?

The first European to explore the North American coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, although he failed to find a waterway to Asia. His explorations contributed to the early mapping of North America.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Who was Jacques Cartier?

French explorer who sailed inland along the St. Lawrence River to present-day Montreal. He claimed much of eastern Canada for France and played a pivotal role in establishing French colonial influence in North America.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Why did England & France focus on North America?

England and France primarily established colonies in North America due to Spain and Portugal already claiming vast territories in South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are Expeditions?

Early expeditions or journeys of exploration played a crucial role in expanding European knowledge of the world and establishing colonial territories. These expeditions shaped geopolitical dynamics and laid the foundation for future exploration and colonization.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Study Notes

European Exploration: Motives and Methods

  • Driven by Trade: Europeans sought direct access to Asian luxury goods (silk, spices) to bypass costly overland routes through the Middle East.
  • Marco Polo's Influence: Stories of Marco Polo's travels fueled European interest in Asia.
  • Technological Advancements: New navigational tools (astrolabe, compass) and improved maps (Ptolemy's Geography, Catalan Atlas) facilitated sea voyages.
  • Ship Improvements: Triangular sails, multiple masts, and rudders enabled ships to travel in various directions, regardless of the wind.

Rise of Powerful Monarchies

  • Stronger Governments: Expanding trade and urbanization strengthened European monarchies.
  • Four Powerful Kingdoms: Portugal, Spain, France, and England emerged as dominant powers with Atlantic coast ports.

Portuguese Leadership

  • Prince Henry the Navigator: Funded numerous voyages along Africa's west coast, establishing trade routes and claiming islands.
  • Bartolomeu Dias: Sailed to the southern tip of Africa.
  • Vasco da Gama: Sailed around Africa and reached India's southwest coast, opening a sea route to Asia.

Columbus's Voyage

  • Westward Route to Asia: Christopher Columbus's plan differed, aiming for a western route to Asia across the Atlantic.
  • Spanish Sponsorship: Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain financed Columbus's voyage.
  • Arrival in the Americas: Columbus landed in the Bahamas (San Salvador) believing he reached Asia.
  • Interactions with Indigenous Peoples: Columbus described encounters with the Taino people, establishing early exchanges.
  • Misconception of Destination: Columbus remained convinced he had found Asia, unaware of the newly discovered continent.

Spanish Conquest and Expansion

  • Conquistadors: Spanish soldier-explorers (conquistadors) forcefully claimed Hispaniola and conquered indigenous populations.
  • Treaty of Tordesillas: Agreement dividing newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal.
  • Magellan's Circumnavigation: Ferdinand Magellan's expedition sailed around South America, crossing the Pacific Ocean, completing the first known circumnavigation of the globe (though he died during the journey).

French and English Explorers

  • John Cabot: Explored North American coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
  • Giovanni da Verrazzano: Explored and mapped much of the North American eastern coast.
  • Jacques Cartier: Explored the St. Lawrence River and parts of eastern Canada.
  • Later Expeditions: French and English voyages shifted focus to establishing colonies in North America.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Description

Explore the key factors that drove European exploration during the Age of Discovery. This quiz delves into trade influences, technological advancements, powerful monarchies, and notable figures such as Prince Henry the Navigator. Test your knowledge on how these elements shaped maritime explorations.

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser