Age of Exploration and Isolation

This set of flashcards covers the key concepts, events, and figures from the Age of Exploration and Isolation as discussed in the lecture.

What technological advancement allowed Europeans to explore across oceans in the 1400s?

Advances in sailing technology, including the caravel and improved navigational tools.

Who was a key figure in promoting exploration in Portugal?

Prince Henry, known as 'the Navigator'.

What were the primary motives for European exploration in the 1400s?

To gain wealth, spread Christianity, and achieve glory.

What was the Treaty of Tordesillas?

An agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided newly discovered lands between them.

Which Portuguese explorer rounded the southern tip of Africa?

Bartolomeu Dias.

Which explorer was the first to reach India by sea?

Vasco da Gama.

What did the countries of England, Spain, Portugal, and France seek through exploration?

To establish new trade routes and bypass Italian merchants.

What invention helped sailors calculate their latitude at sea?

The astrolabe.

What was the main function of a caravel?

To sail effectively against the wind and carry larger cargoes.

What valuable materials were discovered in Ceuta by Prince Henry?

Spices, gold, silver, and jewels.

What were the Spice Islands known for?

Their rich supply of spices.

In what year did Christopher Columbus reach the Caribbean?

1492.

What was the significance of Columbus's voyage?

It opened the way for the European colonization of the Americas.

What role did the Pope play in the rivalry between Spain and Portugal?

He drew the Line of Demarcation to divide lands between the two countries.

How did Portugal establish its control over the Indian Ocean?

By defeating Muslim fleets and building forts.

What was the Dutch East India Company?

A company that established trade in Asia and had the power to mint money and raise armies.

What era began with Vasco da Gama's voyage to India?

The era of direct sea trade between Europe and Asia.

How did the Dutch gain dominance in the Indian Ocean trade?

By having a larger and more powerful fleet than their competitors.

What year did the Treaty of Tordesillas get signed?

1494.

What was one consequence of the age of exploration?

The establishment of European trading empires in Asia.

How did European merchants make profits from Asian goods?

By reselling items at increased prices.

What impact did the Renaissance have on exploration?

It encouraged a spirit of adventure and curiosity among Europeans.

What was a major result of the Portuguese control over trade?

They significantly reduced the prices of Asian goods in Europe.

What legacy did Prince Henry leave behind even though he never sailed on actual expeditions?

He founded a navigation school that advanced exploration.

What city did the Portuguese make the capital of their trading empire in India?

Goa.

Who were the primary European competitors for Asian trade during the age of exploration?

Spain, Portugal, England, and the Netherlands.

What effect did Columbus's voyage have on European views of the world?

It expanded their knowledge and interest in other territories.

What did Captain Afonso de Albuquerque aim to achieve in Malacca?

To disrupt the Muslim-Italian trade dominance in the region.

What was the impact of European contact on the peoples of Asia during this period?

Limited influence, primarily confined to port cities.

What navigation tool replaced the astrolabe in the mid-1700s?

The sextant.

What allowed the Dutch to build a powerful trade empire in the East?

Their successful formation of the Dutch East India Company.

Why did European countries feel the need to find new sea routes to Asia?

To bypass the expensive land routes controlled by Muslim and Italian traders.

What competition emerged among European nations as exploration intensified?

A race to establish colonies and trading posts in Asia.

What was a commonality between the navigation advancements of different cultures?

Many improvements in navigational tools were borrowed from other civilizations.