Chapter 2: Age of Exploration

These flashcards cover the key concepts of the Age of Exploration, including motivations for exploration, significant explorers, navigation technology, and the impacts of their discoveries.

What motivated European explorers to seek new routes to Asia?

The desire for wealth from trade, particularly for goods like silk and spices.

What was the significance of Prince Henry's navigation school?

It educated sailors, mapmakers, and scholars, improving navigation and sea travel.

Who was Bartolomeu Dias and what did he achieve?

A Portuguese explorer who sailed around the tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope, in 1487.

What contributions did Vasco da Gama make to exploration?

He followed Dias's route around Africa and became the first to reach India by sea, greatly enhancing Portugal's spice trade.

What tools helped improve navigation during the Age of Exploration?

Tools like the astrolabe, magnetic compass, and navigational maps were crucial for sea travel.

How did the caravel improve shipbuilding for explorers?

The caravel was smaller, lighter, and had better sails for controlling wind, making it ideal for exploration.

What was the impact of the Columbian Exchange?

The Columbian Exchange led to the exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World.

Name a key Vikin explorer and his contribution.

Leif Erikson is known as one of the first Europeans to land in North America around 1001.

What did European rulers hope to gain from exploration?

They sought to find new trade routes, acquire wealth, and expand their territories.

What were the dangers of land routes to Asia?

Land routes were long and dangerous, often faced with thieves and difficult terrains.