Exploration Technology
What tool helped sailors find their direction by using the stars?
The astrolabe
What two countries signed the Treaty of Tordesillas?
Spain and Portugal
Which country led the way in exploring new sea routes during the Age of Exploration?
Portugal
What were the Crusades?
Religious wars where Christians tried to take back the Holy Land from Muslim control
In what year did Christopher Columbus first sail to the Americas?
1492
What is the name of the small, fast ship used by European explorers?
The caravel
What was the purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas?
To divide the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal.
Who was Prince Henry the Navigator?
A Portuguese prince who encouraged exploration and started a navigation school
Why did Europeans want to find a direct sea route to Asia?
To avoid paying high prices from Middle Eastern traders.
Which Italian explorer is America named after?
Amerigo Vespucci
What tool always points north and helps sailors navigate?
The magnetic compass
Which country got the land to the west of the Treaty line?
Spain
Which Portuguese explorer was the first to sail around the southern tip of Africa?
Bartolomeu Dias
Who was Marco Polo?
An Italian explorer who traveled to China and wrote about his experiences.
Which two monarchs sponsored Columbus’s voyages?
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.
How did better maps help explorers?
They helped sailors know where they were going and what to expect on their voyages.
Which country got the land to the east of the Treaty line?
Portugal
Which explorer was the first to reach India by sea, opening up trade for Portugal?
Vasco da Gama
How did the Crusades increase European interest in trade?
Crusaders saw new goods from Asia like spices and silk, making people want to trade for these items.
Where did Columbus land on his first voyage
The Caribbean Islands, near present-day Bahamas.
Why was the caravel so important for exploration?
It was a fast and maneuverable ship that could sail long distances
What part of South America did Portugal control after the Treaty of Tordesillas?
Brazil
Why were the Portuguese important in the exploration of Africa?
They set up trading posts and began exploring the African coast, starting the Atlantic slave trade
Why were Marco Polo’s travels important for future explorers?
His book made Europeans interested in finding faster routes to Asia
Which explorer’s voyage around the world proved that the Earth was round?
Ferdinand Magellan, although he died before completing the journey.