Age of Discovery stuff

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Prince Henry

Started a navigational school to teach his sea captains how to sail the ocean.

Portugal

Was the first nation to explore the lands of Africa, claiming colonies along the way.

Spain

Was the first nation to sail and discover the Americas. They conquered the Incan and Aztec civilizations, and became rich from the gold and silver they had stolen.

Caravel

This was the fastest ship in the ocean, designed by the Portuguese, It was equipped with Arab lateen sails.

Galleon

This was the largest ship in the ocean, designed by the Spanish, and equipped with many cannons for sea battle expertise.

Compass

Used by sailors to navigate and be aware of the direction they were travelling in.

Quadrant

This is a navigational device that enabled sailors to know the latitude their ship was located at on the earth, determined by star constellation locations in the sky.

Conquistadors

Spanish soldiers and fortune hunters, who conquered the Aztecs and Incans, to bring back gold and glory for themselves. They had the military advantages of guns, metal armour, and horses.

Aztecs

They were a large tribal empire in Mexico who were conquered and enslaved by the Spanish.

Incans

They were a large tribal empire in Peru who were conquered and enslaved by the Spanish.

The Columbian Exchange

The exchange of goods, culture, plants / animals, and disease between the continents of the Americas and Europe, named after Columbus.

The Silk Road

The trade connection between the Mediterranean Sea and China, an important transportation route for the Spice trade, silks, and precious jewels coming to Europe.

The Siege of Constantinople

This event ended the Byzantine empire, and gave the Ottoman Turks control of the Arab connections to the Silk Road trade route. It cut off Europeans from the Silk Road trade, forcing them to travel by sea to Asia in order to get their silk and spices. This led to the Age of Exploration.

The New World

Refers to the continents of North and South America.

The Old World

Refers to Europe, Africa and Asia.

The Slave Trade

Was first started by the Portuguese, who bought slaves in Africa, and transported them to Brazil, for a cheap labour force on their banana plantations.

Slave labour

Was used by Europe in their colonies untill it was abolished in the late 1800s.

Scurvy

A disease that many sailors would get due to lack of Vitamin C.

Smallpox

A disease that was brought by Europeans to the Americas. It killed millions of First Nations people.

Treaty of Tordesillas

The division of world territory between Spain and Portugal, arranged by the Pope to prevent a war in Europe between those countries.

Spain’s land

All of North America, the Philippines, and South America.

Portugal’s land

Brazil, all of Africa, and parts of Asia.

Defeat of the Spanish Armada

This event led to the downfall of the Spanish empire, and the control of colonies and the seas by the British navy (under the control of Queen Elizabeth 1 and Francis Drake).

Marco Polo

Was an Italian merchant and explorer, who was the first European to visit China. He made Europeans aware of the Silk Road trade route, and brought back many Asian goods to Europe.

Christopher Columbus

Sailed for Spain across the Atlantic Ocean, hoping to find a shorter trade route to Asia. Instead, he found the Americas.

Da Gama

A Portuguese explorer who sailed around Africa, across the Indian Ocean, to claim a colony in India.

Pizzarro

A Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca nation, claiming Peru for Spain.

Atahualpa

The last emperor of the Incas

Cortez

A conquistador who conquered the Aztec empire, sending a lot of gold and silver back to Spain.

Montezuma

The last emperor of the Aztecs

Magellan

First European to sail around the world (circumnavigate), for Spain.

Francis Drake

English explorer and sea dog pirate, who defeated the Spanish Armada, to defend England against invasion.

Blackbeard

The most famous and most dangerous pirate of the Caribbean Sea region.

James Cook

Was a British captain who made many discoveries on his Pacific Ocean travels, including places like Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii, claiming these territories for England.

Zeng He

Was the greatest explorer from China, who sailed the seas and brought back treasures to the Ming emperor.

Elizabeth the 1st

made England a naval power and sent English sea dogs like Drake to raid Spanish treasure ships. Her navy defeated the Spanish Armada to gain control of the oceans.

Queen Isabella of Spain

Sponsored Columbus’ voyages to North America, which led to Spain’s control of that territory and of the riches of the Americas.