Ptolemy Revied and Revised
1. How did Ptolemy's miscalculations in Geography influence Columbus' voyage to the Americas?
Ptolemy underestimated Earth's circumference, leading Columbus to believe Asia was much closer when sailing west, ultimately resulting in his accidental discovery of the Americas.
[Gambling Tile]
How did Prince Henry the Navigator’s school at Sagres advance Portuguese maritime exploration, and what specific knowledge was developed there?
Prince Henry’s school at Sagres advanced navigation by improving cartography, the astrolabe, and the caravel. This training enabled Portuguese explorers to sail down the African coast more effectively.
What specific technological and navigational advancements allowed Bartolomeu Dias to successfully round the Cape of Good Hope, and how did these advancements differ from earlier attempts by Portuguese explorers?
Dias used the caravel, a ship capable of sailing closer to the wind, and the astrolabe for more precise navigation. He also utilized the volta do mar technique, which earlier explorers lacked, allowing him to navigate the difficult Atlantic winds.
[Gambling Tile]
In what ways did papal support during the Crusades influence Portuguese exploration policies, especially in the context of the reconquista and the maritime expansion efforts?
Papal backing, through indulgences and blessings, framed Portuguese explorations as a continuation of the reconquista, encouraging efforts to establish a Christian presence in the Indian Ocean.
What specific Ptolemaic assumption did Dias' rounding of the Cape of Good Hope invalidate about the geography of Africa?
Dias' voyage disproved Ptolemy’s belief that the Indian Ocean was a landlocked sea, showing that Africa could be circumnavigated.
[Gambling Tile]
What role did the 1406 Latin translation of Ptolemy’s Geography play in European exploration?
The 1406 translation made Ptolemy’s maps and ideas widely available, inspiring European explorers by providing a systematic method for mapping the world using latitude and longitude.
What was the significance of the Treaty of Tordesillas for Portuguese exploration, particularly in securing routes to the East?
The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) secured Portugal’s claim to lands east of the treaty line, allowing them to focus on controlling sea routes around Africa to India, bypassing Spanish claims to the New World.
[Gambling Tile]
How did Bartolomeu Dias' discovery of the Cape of Good Hope impact Portuguese strategies for reaching India, and what specific challenges did this route pose for future explorers like Vasco da Gama?
Dias’ rounding of the Cape proved a sea route to India was possible, shifting Portuguese focus to direct access to the Indian Ocean. However, the dangerous waters and unpredictable weather around the Cape posed significant challenges for future explorers like Vasco da Gama.
How did the perception of Islam as a monolithic threat during the Crusades evolve by the time of the Age of Discovery, particularly in the context of Portuguese interactions with diverse Muslim cultures?
By the Age of Discovery, encounters with various Muslim cultures revealed a more complex landscape, prompting the Portuguese to adapt their strategies from outright conflict to a mix of trade and diplomacy.
[Gambling Tile]
How did the Portuguese use Ptolemaic cartography to justify their exploratory monopoly, despite its geographic inaccuracies?
The Portuguese used Ptolemy’s maps to claim theoretical ownership over lands they sought, leveraging his authority to bolster their maritime ambitions, even though his geography was outdated.
In what ways did Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 map correct and perpetuate Ptolemy’s geographical errors?
Waldseemüller corrected Ptolemy by including the New World as a separate continent but retained errors like overestimating the size of Asia and misplacing various landmasses.
[Gambling Tile]
How did the caravel contribute to the success of Portuguese explorers in navigating the South Atlantic and around Africa?
The caravel, with its lateen sails and agility, allowed Portuguese explorers to sail against winds and currents, essential for navigating the treacherous waters around Africa and the South Atlantic.
How did the Portuguese interpretation of the Cape of Good Hope’s strategic importance evolve following its discovery, and how did this affect the establishment of Portuguese trading posts and fortifications along the Indian Ocean?
After Dias, the Portuguese saw the Cape as a passage rather than a strategic point. They prioritized securing trading posts along the Indian Ocean, such as Mozambique and Goa, over fortifying the Cape itself. [Gambling Tile]
How did the fall of the Crusader strongholds contribute to the sense of urgency in Portuguese exploration efforts?
The fall of key Crusader strongholds created a sense of urgency for the Portuguese to establish new trade routes and convert non-Christians before rival powers could capitalize on the vacuum.
What navigational strategy was developed to deal with the winds and currents near the Cape of Good Hope, and how did it contrast with traditional Mediterranean techniques?
The volta do mar technique, which involved sailing far into the Atlantic to catch favorable winds, contrasted with Mediterranean coastal navigation, which relied on shorter, more predictable routes.
[Gambling Tile]
How did Ptolemy's reliance on secondhand reports limit the accuracy of his Geography?
Ptolemy’s maps were based on incomplete or inaccurate reports, leading to errors like the distortion of Africa's shape and the misplacement of key locations like the Spice Islands.
What role did local knowledge from African and Arab navigators play in Portuguese expeditions, particularly for Vasco da Gama?
African and Arab navigators provided critical knowledge of wind patterns, currents, and routes across the Indian Ocean, helping Vasco da Gama reach India by guiding him through unfamiliar waters.
[Gambling Tile]
In what ways did the Portuguese expeditions beyond the Cape of Good Hope reflect broader European geopolitical and religious goals, particularly in relation to competing with Islamic powers and the quest for Prester John?
The expeditions aimed to bypass Islamic-controlled trade routes and search for Prester John, a mythical Christian ally. This reflected both economic and religious goals, seeking dominance over Islamic powers and spreading Christianity.
ow did the concept of chivalry, as influenced by the Crusades, manifest in the actions of explorers like Vasco da Gama?
The concept of chivalry, rooted in the Crusades, manifested in the actions of explorers like Vasco da Gama as they sought to emulate heroic figures and promote Christian values during their journeys.
[Gambling Tile]
How did Vasco da Gama's voyage to India demonstrate the limitations of Ptolemy's understanding of monsoon wind patterns?
Da Gama's voyage revealed that Ptolemy had no knowledge of the Indian Ocean monsoon system, which local navigators understood and exploited to complete the journey efficiently.
How did the printing press contribute to both the spread and the perpetuation of Ptolemy’s errors?
The printing press allowed Geography to be mass-produced, spreading his methods widely but also cementing his geographic mistakes, which misled explorers for decades.
[Gambling Tile]
How did Portuguese economic and political motivations influence their exploration of the African coast and the establishment of trading posts?
The Portuguese sought direct access to African gold and later spices from India, bypassing Muslim-controlled routes. They established trading posts along the African coast to secure these resources for their expanding empire.
What specific factors led Bartolomeu Dias to turn back after reaching the Cape of Good Hope, and how did this decision shape subsequent Portuguese expeditions to the East?
Dias turned back due to low provisions, crew exhaustion, and dangerous weather. His return, though short of India, confirmed the route’s feasibility, paving the way for Vasco da Gama’s later successful expedition to India.
[Gambling Tile]
How did the Crusades influence the Portuguese desire to explore beyond Africa, particularly in their interactions with Muslim powers?
The Crusades instilled in the Portuguese a sense of religious rivalry with Muslim powers, motivating them to bypass Muslim-controlled trade routes and seek direct access to Asian markets.
What role did the shifting balance of power in the Mediterranean, particularly the fall of Constantinople, play in accelerating Portuguese efforts to find a sea route to Asia?
The fall of Constantinople in 1453 disrupted European access to overland trade routes, pushing Portugal to accelerate its search for a sea route to Asia to bypass Ottoman control of trade with the East.
[Gambling Tile]