Trade and Economic Motives
What island chain was known as the "Spice Islands" in the 1400s?
The Moluccas (in present-day Indonesia)
Which Portuguese prince sponsored voyages along the West African coast?
Prince Henry (the Navigator)
Which European country was the first to gain a foothold in Asia?
Portugal
In what year did the Dutch capture Malacca from Portugal?
1641
What empire was a major hub for global trade in spices, silk, and cotton?
The Mughal Empire
In what year did Portuguese ships first arrive in China?
1514
Why were spices so highly valued in Europe?
For preserving food, adding flavor, and medicinal purposes
What was Prince Henry’s major contribution to navigation?
He established a navigation school in Sagres and supported cartography and shipbuilding
What technology gave Portuguese ships dominance in the Indian Ocean?
Superior shipboard cannons
Which islands did the Dutch establish a monopoly over?
The Spice Islands (Moluccas)
How did Mughal India compare in wealth and power to European kingdoms?
It was wealthier and more powerful
Which new crops from the Americas increased China’s food supply?
Potatoes and corn
What was the main economic reason Europeans wanted direct access to Asian goods?
To avoid paying high prices to Arab and Italian merchants
Who was the first European to reach India by sailing around Africa?
Vasco da Gama
Who led Portuguese expansion after Vasco da Gama’s voyage?
Afonso de Albuquerque
With which Asian country did the Dutch open trade?
China
Where were Europeans allowed to build forts and warehouses in India?
Coastal towns
What was the population growth in China during the Qing Dynasty?
From 140 million to over 300 million
What was the Line of Demarcation (1493)?
A boundary set by the Pope dividing the non-European world between Spain and Portugal
Which Italian explorer sailed west in 1492 seeking a route to Asia?
Christopher Columbus
What was the main goal of the Portuguese in Asia regarding Muslim power?
To end Muslim power and control the spice trade
How did the Dutch strengthen their influence in Asia besides trade?
Formed alliances with local rulers and intermarried with Asian women
Name one factor that led to the decline of the Mughal Empire.
Internal conflict, religious intolerance, weak leadership, civil wars, or high taxes
Which industries flourished in Qing China?
Silk, cotton, and porcelain
Which treaty formalized the division of the non-European world between Spain and Portugal?
The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)
Who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe?
Ferdinand Magellan
Which city became a significant Portuguese base in 1510?
Goa
By the 1700s, which two European countries challenged Dutch power in Asia?
England and France
What effect did high taxes have on Mughal India?
They led to peasant revolts and loss of control
To which port was foreign trade restricted under the Qing?
Canton (Guangzhou)
What city was established by the Dutch in 1652 as the first permanent European settlement in Africa?
Cape Town
What is a cartographer?
A person who makes maps
Which port did Portugal seize in 1511 to control East Indies trade?
Malacca
Who claimed the Philippines for Spain in 1521?
Ferdinand Magellan
What was the role of civil wars in the Mughal decline?
They weakened the empire and led to instability
How did Western firearms affect Japan?
They helped Tokugawa shoguns unify Japan
Who were the Boers?
Dutch farmers who settled in Cape Town and later migrated inland
What instrument, perfected by the Arabs, was used to determine latitude at sea?
Astrolabe
What did Portugal build around the Indian Ocean to support its trade?
A network of trading outposts
Why was it easier for Spain to conquer the Philippines?
The Filipinos were not politically unified
What did internal conflict and religious intolerance cause in the Mughal Empire?
Decline and fragmentation
Why did the Macartney Mission fail?
Cultural misunderstandings, including refusal to perform the kowtow
Why did Europeans want to bypass Arab and Italian merchants in trade?
To obtain goods more cheaply and increase profits
What is a caravel?
A fast, maneuverable Portuguese ship with square and triangular sails
Why did Portugal remain on the fringe of Asian trade despite sea power?
Religious intolerance and resistance from local powers
What religion did Spanish priests spread in the Philippines?
Christianity
Which two European countries competed for influence in Mughal India?
Britain and France
What is a kowtow?
Ritual bowing before the Chinese emperor
What role did Mombasa play in international trade?
It was an East African coastal city and hub of international trade, attacked by Portuguese to control trade routes
How did improved maps and sea charts impact exploration?
They made long voyages safer and more accurate
By the late 1500s, what happened to Portuguese power in Asia?
It declined as other Europeans began to compete
What was the Manila Galleon trade?
Trade route linking Asia, the Americas, and Europe, exchanging silver for Chinese goods
What is a rajah?
A local Indian ruler or prince
Which city became one of the world’s largest by the 1700s?
Edo (Tokyo)
How did the Renaissance influence European exploration?
The Renaissance sparked a spirit of curiosity and a desire to learn more about the world.
What were the four main motives for European exploration?
Economic ambition, religious zeal, curiosity, and political competition
Name one reason for resistance against Portuguese rule in Asia.
Religious intolerance or aggressive tactics
What global impact did the Manila Galleon trade have?
It created one of the first global trade networks
Who were sepoys?
Indian soldiers serving under European command
Who was Francis Xavier?
A Jesuit missionary who spread Christianity in Japan