Motivations
What was the primary economic reason European countries began exploring the world during the Age of Discovery?
Mercantilism
Which explorer sailed for England and is known for exploring parts of what is now Canada?
Henry Hudson.
What is the name of the ship design that Prince Henry the Navigator helped develop, which was faster and more maneuverable for long voyages?
Caravel
Which European country settled in areas like Florida, Mexico, and South America, primarily seeking wealth through gold and the spread of Christianity?
Spain.
This allowed Spanish settlers to receive land and labor from Native Americans in exchange for protection and Christian teachings.
Encomienda System
Which religion played a significant role in motivating European exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries?
Christianity, particularly the desire to spread the religion to new lands.
Which Portuguese explorer was the first to reach India by sea, opening the route to Asia?
Vasco da Gama.
Which navigational tool, improved during the Age of Discovery, helped sailors determine their direction by using the stars?
The astrolabe.
Where did the French primarily establish their colonies in North America, and what was their main focus?
Canada and along the Mississippi River, focusing on fur trading
Spanish priest who advocated for Native American rights and played a role in the shift toward African slavery in the Spanish colonies.
Bartolomé de las Casas
Which empires' political rivalries motivated many European countries to explore and establish colonies in the Americas?
The rivalry between European powers like Spain, Portugal, England, and France to expand their empires and gain dominance over each other.
Which explorer’s voyages helped to prove that the Americas were a new continent and not part of Asia, leading to the use of the name "America"?
Amerigo Vespucci.
How did Prince Henry the Navigator influence exploration beyond just funding voyages?
He established a school for navigation, which trained sailors, cartographers, and explorers, leading to more successful voyages.
Which European country focused on religious freedom and established colonies like Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay?
England.
A key part of Spanish colonization, as they sought to convert Native Americans to Catholicism through missions and the encomienda system.
Catholicism
How did mercantilism encourage European exploration?
Mercantilism encouraged the establishment of colonies to provide raw materials for the mother country and create new markets for finished goods, which would increase national wealth.
Which Spanish conquistador defeated the Aztec Empire in Mexico?
Hernán Cortés.
What was the role of the compass in exploration during the Age of Discovery?
The compass helped sailors determine direction and navigate across oceans more accurately.
What animals were introduced to the Americas from Europe during the Columbian Exchange?
Horses, cattle, and pigs.
Name two ways the mission system in the Americas impacted Native American culture?
Missions sought to convert Native Americans to Christianity and European ways of life
Which European countries remained predominantly Catholic during the Reformation?
Spain, France, and Portugal
What Two major factors contributed to the fall of the Aztec & Inca Empires?
Disease and Superior Weapons by the Spanisards
Which country focused on trade in Africa, Brazil, and parts of the Caribbean and South America, and also had a large Catholic influence?
Portugal
Which crop from the Americas helped increase food supplies in Europe during the Columbian Exchange?
Potatoes.
Which Spanish conquistador defeated the Inca Empire in Peru?
Francisco Pizarro.