The Decline of the Roman Empire and its Impact on Trade

Questions and Answers

What was the impact of the decline of the Roman Empire on the accessibility of Indian commodities in Europe?

Direct contact between Europeans and India declined, and the easy accessibility to Indian commodities like spices, calicoes, silk, and precious stones was affected.

Who controlled the land routes to India during the 15th century?

The Arabs controlled the land routes to India.

What was the primary motivation behind the European desire to find a direct sea route to India?

The Europeans wanted to bypass the Arab intermediaries and gain direct access to Indian commodities like spices, calicoes, silk, and precious stones.

What were some of the significant advances made in Europe during the 15th century that facilitated sea exploration?

Great advances were made in the art of ship-building and navigation. Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of the growing prosperity in Europe on the demand for oriental luxury goods?

The demand for oriental luxury goods increased. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453?

The fall of Constantinople marked the ascendance of the Ottoman Turks and further restricted European access to Indian commodities. Signup and view all the answers

What motivated Prince Henry of Portugal to search for an ocean route to India?

To circumvent the Muslim domination of the eastern Mediterranean and to spread the Christian faith. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas signed in 1494?

To divide the non-Christian world between Portugal and Spain by an imaginary line in the Atlantic. Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Portuguese navigator who rounded the Cape of Good Hope in Africa?

Bartholomew Dias Signup and view all the answers

In what year did the Portuguese ships set out for India and arrive in May?

1497, arriving in May 1498 Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the Pope in Portugal's exploration efforts?

Pope Nicholas V gave Prince Henry a bull in 1454, conferring on him the right to navigate to the distant shores of the Orient. Signup and view all the answers

Why were the city-states of Venice and Genoa unable to take on the Ottoman Turks or undertake major exploration on their own?

They were too small. Signup and view all the answers