Reasons for Exploration
What were some of the reasons Europeans began exploring in the 1400s?
curiosity from the Crusades, desire for spices, the need for new trade routes, and the goals of God, glory, and gold
Who was Prince Henry the Navigator, and why was he important?
Portuguese leader who funded exploration, encouraged mapmaking, and improved ship design
Who funded Christopher Columbus’s first voyage?
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain
What is a chattel?
personal property
How did the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 affect European trade?
Turks took control and shut down access to the Silk Road, cutting off valuable goods like spices
What was the name of the new type of ship the Portuguese developed for exploration?
caravel
What mistake did Columbus make about the land he discovered?
he had reached the East Indies, but he had actually landed in the Caribbean
What is colonization?
the practice of bringing
people from a different country to control
and settle an area that already has an
Indigenous population
What is an astrolabe, and how did it help explorers?
a tool that helps sailors determine their location by measuring the positions of the sun and stars
Who was the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa?
Bartolomeu Dias
What was the Treaty of Tordesillas?
treaty between Spain and Portugal dividing newly discovered lands between them
What is a conquistador?
Spanish word for conqueror
How do you think the closing of the Silk Road influenced the global economy at the time?
it forced Europeans to find new trade routes, leading to the Age of Exploration and a rise in global sea trade
Why do you think Portugal was one of the first European countries to explore by sea?
Portugal had a strong maritime culture, a great Atlantic location, and leaders who supported exploration
Why do you think Spain was willing to risk funding Columbus’s journey?
they hoped to gain wealth, power, and spread Christianity
to send goods to sell in another country.
Give a positive or negative effect of exploration on the world.
Positive - new discoveries
Negative - impact on indigenous peoples
If Prince Henry had never encouraged exploration, do you think Portugal would have still become a powerful seafaring nation? Why or why not? (Can either answer "yes" or "no" and then why)
yes because geographically it is on the ocean.
no because his schools and funding were important for early Portugal success.
How might history have been different if Columbus had realized he was in the Americas instead of Asia? (multiple answers would be acceptable)
might have treated Indigenous people differently or changed how Europeans approached colonization
What is encomienda?
A system in which Spain offered grants of land and enslaved people to reward conquerors.