The Impact of the Crusades on European Trade

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Questions and Answers

What luxury item was rare in Europe before the Crusades?

Sugar (correct)

Silk

Perfumes

Spices

Why were Eastern goods expensive in Europe?

Because of the long and arduous transportation route (correct)

Due to the high cost of production

Because of trade restrictions

Due to high demand

What did European consumers and distributors want to find?

A way to decrease demand

A more expensive route to Asia

A way to monopolize the market

A cheaper route to Asia (correct)

Who returned to Europe in 1295 and sparked further interest in Eastern luxuries?

Marco Polo Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary motivation for Europeans to explore alternative trade routes?

To find a cheaper route to the riches of Asia Signup and view all the answers

What regions were involved in the transportation of Eastern goods to Europe?

The Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea Signup and view all the answers

What was the indirect result of the book written by the discoverer of the New World?

European desires for a cheaper route to the treasures of the East were stimulated Signup and view all the answers

What navigational challenge did European sailors face along the coast of West Africa?

Beating their way home against the prevailing northerly winds and south-flowing currents Signup and view all the answers

What was the innovation that helped Portuguese mariners overcome the navigational challenge?

Use of the caravel, a ship that could sail more closely into the wind Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary driving force behind the establishment of the modern plantation system?

The need for large-scale commercial agriculture and wholesale exploitation of slave labor Signup and view all the answers

What region of Africa was known to Europe since antiquity?

The northern shore of Africa Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the impact of the plantation economy on the New World?

It shaped the destiny of much of the New World Signup and view all the answers

What was the barrier that separated the northern and southern regions of Africa?

The Sahara Desert Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence of Portuguese mariners overcoming the navigational challenges?

The world of sub-Saharan Africa came within the grasp of questing Europeans Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary motivation behind the Portuguese exploration of Africa?

To establish new trade routes Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Bartholomeu Días' journey in 1488?

He rounded the southernmost tip of Africa Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of the early trade routes on European understanding of goods from the East?

It made the ultimate source of goods from the East remain mysterious to Europeans Signup and view all the answers

Approximately how many Africans were taken to the Atlantic sugar islands in the last half of the fifteenth century?

Forty thousand Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Crusades and Luxury Goods

Silk was a rare luxury item in Europe before the Crusades.
Eastern goods were expensive due to long trade routes and high demand among European consumers.

European Interest in Eastern Luxuries

European consumers and distributors sought to find direct access to Eastern luxuries like spices, silks, and precious stones.
Marco Polo returned to Europe in 1295, reigniting interest in Eastern goods and travel narratives.

Exploration Motivations

The primary motivation for exploring alternative trade routes was to bypass intermediaries, reducing costs and increasing profit margins.
Regions involved in transporting Eastern goods included the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia.

Impact of Exploration Narratives

The indirect result of Columbus's discoveries was a heightened European curiosity about Eastern luxuries and new trade opportunities.

Navigational Challenges in West Africa

European sailors faced treacherous currents, uncharted waters, and dangerous coastal conditions along the West African coast.
The caravel, a new sailing ship design, allowed Portuguese mariners to navigate these challenges effectively.

Economic Developments

The establishment of the modern plantation system was primarily driven by the demand for sugar, leading to an increase in slave labor.
The coastal region of West Africa had been known and interacted with by Europeans since antiquity, mainly for trade.

Plantation Economy in the New World

The plantation economy significantly impacted the New World through the establishment of agricultural production models that relied heavily on slave labor.

Geographic and Historical Barriers

The Sahara Desert served as a natural barrier separating the northern and southern regions of Africa.
Overcoming navigational challenges allowed for increased maritime trade, expansion of European influence, and colonization efforts.

Portuguese Exploration Consequences

The primary motivation behind Portuguese exploration of Africa was to secure trade routes and access to gold and spices.
Bartholomeu Días' journey in 1488 was significant as it marked the first European navigation around the southern tip of Africa, opening sea routes to India.

Understanding Trade Routes

Early trade routes enhanced European understanding of Eastern goods, shaping demand and paving the way for future explorations and colonization.

Atlantic Slave Trade

Approximately 30,000 Africans were taken to the Atlantic sugar islands in the last half of the fifteenth century, establishing a brutal cycle of slave labor for sugar production.

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Description

Discover how the Crusades influenced European trade, sparking a desire for exotic goods like silk, spices, and sugar. Learn about the luxury goods that became coveted in Europe and their significant impact on world history.