US History Module One

What was the epicenter of the Renaissance?

Florence, Italy.

When did the Renaissance occur?

1350 to 1600 AD.

What does Renaissance mean?

Rebirth.

True or false. By 1650 the world was pretty accurately mapped.

True.

What was an issue the Vikings had?

Their ships were exposed to the elements.

Why didn’t the Vikings stay when they made it to Newfoundland/Nova Scotia?

They were looking for wealth and they didn’t find any loot. Also the journey to get there was a difficult one.

What were the new developments in ship building technology?

Sails replaced oars (began around 1300).

More masts were added. (Could go faster).

Sternpost rudder added. (Increased the stability of ships and maneuverability).

Artillery added. (Helped Europeans conquer other people).

Magnetic compass. (Came to Europeans around 1000).

Astrolabe. (Instrument used to observe stars and planets).

What did the new developments of their ships do for the Europeans?

Important because they allowed Europeans to sail out of sight of land. To go further out on the ocean. Opened the world up to them.

What prompted Europeans to go out and discover new places?

1. Challenge Italian Trade.

2. Spices.

3. Gold.

4. Power.

5. Religion. (wanted to spread Christianity)

Who was Marco Polo and when did he live?

Venetian explorer. First European to spend a lengthy amount of time in China. Lived 1254 to 1324. Stayed at the court of Kublai Khan for several years. Brought back the idea of paper money (idea from China) and possibly eyeglasses.

True or false. Europeans didn’t initially set out to “just explore” they were originally interested in finding direct trade routes to Asia.

True.

Prince Henry the Navigator:

Portugal Explorer. Lived 1394 to 1460.

Bartholomew Diaz:

From Portugal. Lived 1450 to 1500. Successfully sailed around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. Storms and mutiny made him go back. Wanted to go on to India, but had to turn back. King John the 2nd was so excited that they had reached the southern tip of Africa, he named it Good Hope.

Vasco de Gama:

Lived 1460s to 1524. Completed what Bartholomew Diaz was not able to complete. He sailed around the southern tip of Africa. Between 1497 and 1499 he made it to India and returned to Portugal to King Manuel the 1st and brought back shiploads of items.

Pedro Cabral:

Lived 1467 to 1520. From Portugal. Sighted coast of Brazil, when he thought he was coasting the Western part of Africa. First thought he discovered a large island. Eventually realized he discovered a continent and claimed it for Portugal.

What is the significance of the Portuguese and Christopher Columbus?

Their voyages to the Americas expanded humans’ understanding of the earth and water. People came to realize that Earth and water were joined together. They were one. Humans now had to grasp the global dimensions of the planet that they lived on and they learned that the world was an ocean, and all of its territories were islands.

Portuguese sailors used triangular sails and built lighter vessels called __________ so they could sail down the African coast.

Caravels.

What two people got married in 1469 and united two of the most powerful independent kingdoms on the Iberian peninsula and laid the foundation for the modern nation of Spain?

King Ferdinand of Aragon married Queen Isabella of Castile.

Historians generally recognize three motives for European exploration, which are?

God, glory and gold.