Technological Innovations and Transoceanic Travel

Flashcards covering key technological innovations and developments in transoceanic travel and trade during the period 1450-1750.

Transoceanic Travel and Trade (1450-1750)

Voyages by Columbus connected people across the Atlantic Ocean, with European traders linking Afro-Eurasia and the Americas.

Goods from the Americas

Sugar, tobacco, and rum.

Goods from Africa

Enslaved people.

Goods from Asia

Silk, spices, and rhubarb.

Prince Henry the Navigator

Portuguese ruler who strongly supported exploration and financed expeditions along Africa’s Atlantic Coast.

Newton's discovery of gravitation

Increased knowledge of the tides, allowing sailors to predict water depth changes near shores.

Astronomical chart

A map of the stars and galaxies used by mariners to guide ships' direction.

Ship Building Improvements

Adjusting ship length-to-width ratio, number of masts, and types of sails to improve efficiency.

Result of combining navigational techniques

Rapid expansion of exploration and global trade.