Chapter 3 SAQ Review

Who were the Ottomans and how did they impact maritime trade in the Mediterranean?

The Ottomans were a powerful empire that controlled key trade routes, disrupting traditional goods flow from Asia to Europe and pressuring Europeans to find new direct trade routes expanding maritime trade from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and beyond

What role did Venetian merchants play in trade?

Venetian merchants were influential traders who established relations with the Mamluk Sultan in Egypt, gaining access to Cairo, a major trade hub for Asian goods, and controlled trade routes connecting Europe to Asia. They funded this trade by trading European woolen cloth and slaves, along with profits from reexeporting goods to Europe.

How did Genoese merchants contribute to European trade and exploration?

Genoese merchants initially controlled the northern trade route to Asia through the Black Sea and later shifted focus to finance after losing dominance to the spice trade to the Venetians, aiding Spain's colonization efforts by providing capital and maritime knowledge. they explored alternative trade routes, sponsoring an early Atlantic epxedition in search of India.

What were the main causes of European expansion during the Age of Exploration?

Causes included economic desires for direct access to spice trade, curiosity from the Renaissance, religious motivations to spread Christianity, and technological advancements in navigation like the caravel and improved maps.

What was the Caravel and how did it facilitate European exploration?

The Caravel was a 2-3 masted sailing ship developed by the Portuguese, known for its maneuverability and ability to carry cargo, which made it ideal for long-distance voyages. The Portuguese were the first to put canons on their caravels, giving them an advantage in naval warfare.

What was Ptolemy's Geography and its significance?

Ptolemy's Geography was a wrriten work that compiled classical geographical knowledge, reintroduced to Europeans by Arab scholars, significantly advancing European cartography and navigation. This contributed to European expansion by guiding explorers through the Age of Exploration.

Why was Portugal well-suited for sea trading?

Portugal had a long Atlantic coastline and a strong maritime culture, with geographic advantages to Atlantic winds that facilitated the discovery and conquest of parts of Africa and Brazil.

Who was Prince Henry the Navigator and what was his impact?

Prince Henry was a Portuguese royal who initiated overseas exploration by participating in the conquest of Ceuta. He established trading settlements in Africa, tapping into African gold and the transatlantic slave trade. He laid the groundwork for Portugal's dominance in Atlantic and Indian Ocean trade, helping turn the nation into a leading power in the Age of Exploration.

How did the Portuguese establish their empire through trading posts?

The Portuguese created a network of trading posts, or factories, in Africa for access to gold and slaves. They later set up key port cities like Hormuz and Malaca, allowing them to control trade routes without dominating local societies.

Who was Vasco de Gama and what was his contribution to exploration?

Vasco de Gama was a Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea, proving a viable trade route to the East and opening doors for future expeditions. His success led future Portuguese expeditions around Africa, sparking a new wave of exploration and colonization.

Who was Christopher Columbus and what was his background?

Christopher Columbus was an experienced navigator from Genoa with connections to Portuguese maritime circles, skilled in navigation techniques, and his background exposure to Portuguese exploration convinced him to boldly seek new trade routes across the Atlantic.

What was Columbus's view of the Native Americans he encountered?

Columbus viewed the Native Americans as timid and generous, believing they could be easily influenced and controlled, and emphasized the economic potential of the lands he discovered. he wanted the Spanish Crown to know that the land he discovered was rich in gold, fertile soil, and possible slaves proving his voyage wasn't useless because he had not found Asia.

What wealth did Columbus describe in the Caribbean islands?

Columbus described the Caribbean islands as rich in gold, cotton, and spices, noting that the natives were eager to share their possessions with the Spanish. He exaggerated these claims because he had not reached Asia, he needed to show that his voyage was still valuable.

How did Columbus describe his treatment of the native people?

He claimed to treat them peacefully and generously, presenting himself as kind while revealing a European attitude of superiority.

What was Columbus's view of the natives he encountered?

He viewed them as timid, simple, and easily controlled, seeing them as resources for conversion and enslavement.

Where did Columbus believe he was headed when he set sail?

He believed he was headed to Asia, specifically to the Great Khan in China. He relied on ancient texts like Ptolemy's Geography and expected to sail West past Japan and land on the eastern coast of Asia. He thought he was near Japan and referred to the Indigenous people as "Indians".

Who were the Taino people?

The Taino were an indigenous group living in the Caribbean islands, described by Columbus as peaceful and generous.

What was the significance of Columbus's second voyage?

It marked the beginning of permanent Spanish colonization in the Americas, establishing a colony on Hispaniola.

What led to Columbus's arrest after his second voyage?

His poor leadership, harsh treatment of settlers and Indigenous people, and forced labor policies led to conflict and his eventual arrest.

Who was Amerigo Vespucci and what did he accomplish?

Vespucci was a Florentine navigator who realized the lands discovered by Columbus were not part of Asia as he wrote in a letter titles "Mundas Nuvas", leading to the naming of America after him by a German map maker. His insights helped shift European understanding of global geography.

What was the Treaty of Tordesillas?

An agreement between Spain and Portugal to divide newly discovered lands to prevent conflict, drawing an imaginary line down the Atlantic Ocean. Spain got the west while Portugal got the east. This line was later redrawn to further accommodate Portugal, which gave them Brazil.

Who was John Cabot and what was his significance?

he was a Venetian merchant who sailed for England. He recieved support from King Henry VII of England to find a northern route to Asia, but ended up landing on Newfoundland. He was marked as one of the earliest known European explorations of the North American mainland, thought Cabot never did find passage to Asia.

What was the goal of French exploration in North America?

The goal was to find a westward passage to Asia, led by Jacques Cartier who explored the Saint Lawrence River in what is now Canada. Though Cartier didn't find a route to Asia, his expeditions marked the beginning of French claims in North America

What characterized the Aztec Empire?

A powerful civilization in central Mexico ruled by the Mexica people from their capital Tenochtitlan, known for advanced knowledge in math, astronomy, engineering, and also practiced human sacrifice and ruled over millions. They had a strict hierarchical rule, creating many enemies.

How did Hernan Cortez conquer the Aztecs?

He landed on the coast of Mexico with a small force and quickly formed alliances with with indigenous groups who were enemies of the Aztecs. He marched to the Aztec capital and after being welcomed by Emporer Moctezuma, the Spanish took him hostage. They killed Moctezuma and Cortez returned with a large group of indigenous forces and conquered the city.

What was notable about the Incan Empire?

A powerful civilization in the Andes known for advanced organization, extensive road networks, and a unique record-keeping system called Knipus.

How did Francisco Pizarro conquer the Inca Empire?

He took advantage of civil war and disease, captured Emperor Atahualpa, demanded a ransom, and then executed him, leading to Spanish control.

What was the impact of Portuguese settlements in Brazil?

Portuguese settlers introduced sugar cane cultivation, leading to a profitable industry that initially relied on enslaved indigenous people, but as their population declined, the Portuguese increasingly turned to enslaved Africans for labor.

What challenges did the Virginia colony face initially?

The Virginia colony, founded at Jamestown, faced food shortages and conflicts with the Powhatan Confederacy before succeeding through tobacco cultivation. To support labor needs they relied on indentured servants before replacing them with enslaved Africans.

What was the significance of the Plymouth settlement?

Plymouth was founded by the Pilgrims seeking religious freedom from angelic repression in England. They arrived on the Mayflower and established a small outpost, but slavery played a minor role due to unsuitable agricultural conditions.

How were Spanish American colonies organized?

The Spanish Crown divided its colonies into vice royalties, each governed by a viceroy who represented the king and was advised by a council called the Audiencia. the first being New Spain and Peru followed by New Grenada and La Plata.

What rules did vice royalties enforce on Indigenous communities?

Indigenous communities could maintain traditional customs as long as they did not conflict with Spanish laws or Christian doctrine, leading to enforced changes when conflicts arose. This shaped how Indigenous people lived and resisted during colonial period.

What was the encomienda system?

The encomienda system was a labor system that allowed Spanish settlers to demand tribute and labor from Indigenous people in exchange for protection and religious instruction, leading to severe abuses.

What was transferred from the Old World to the New World?

Diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza and crops like grapes and olives along with cattle like sheep and goats were transferred from the Old World to the New World.

What crops and goods were introduced from the New World to the Old World?

The New World introduced tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, peppers, beans, tobacco, potatoes, tobacco, and maize to the Old World.

Why did sugar lead to the rise of slavery and the slave trade?

Sugar was a labor-intensive crop that recquired brutal, backbreaking work, and as demand grew in Europe, colonizers needed a large and reliable labor force, leading to the enslavement of Africans and the transatlantic slave trade.

What was the Potosi silver mine and its significance?

The Potosi silver mine in Bolivia was one of the richest sources of silver, producing about 60% of the world's silver and generating massive wealth for Spain but at a high human cost as many Indigenous laborers died due to brutal conditions. The amount of silver that went back to Spain fueled the empire but contributed to economic instability and inflation.

How did the demand for silver impact the world economy?

The global demand for silver in the 16th century fueled Spanish wealth and military expansion but also led to inflation and economic instability in Spain.

Why did the Dutch attack Portugal's empire?

The Dutch attacked the Portuguese empire because at the time the Protestant Dutch were fighting for independance from Catholic Spain and when the Portuguese crown joined with Spain, the Dutch saw the Portuguese as a valid target. They aimed to break the Iberian monopoly on Asian goods like spices, and after a highly profitable voyage, Dutch merchants founded the Dutch East India Company.

What was the role of missionaries in the Americas?

Missionaries, mainly Franciscans, Dominicans, and Jesuits, traveled to convert Indigenous people, often destroying their religious sites and enforcing Christian norms. This religous conversion in the Americas was a key justification for European expansion, especially by Catholic powers.

How did European colonization change ideas about race?

Colonization shifted focus from religious identity to inherited bloodlines, developing a racial system where Indigenous people were seen as redeemable since they had never known Christianity and Africans as impure for supposedly rejecting it.

Who was William Shakespeare and what was his impact?

William Shakespeare was a renowned playwright and poet known for his deep understanding of human nature and powerful language. His work reflected global changes of his time, including European expansion and involving ideas about race. For example, in his story Othello, Shakespeare challenges stereotypes by portraying a Black Moore as a noble yet flawed hero, revealing early English concerns about race, religion, and gender.

Why was the Dutch East India Company created?

It was a powerful state supported trade company that was created to control Dutch trade in Asia and quickly became a major force in global commerce and empire building.

What was the caste system set up by the Spanish?

As Europeans, Indigenous people, and Africans mixed, the Spanish developed a complex caste system to rank individuals based on their racial ancestry, placing pure Spanish blood at the top of the social hierarchy.