European Exploration

Who is known for opening the Americas to European colonization by sailing west in search of Asia?

Christopher Columbus

What was Francisco Vázquez de Coronado searching for in the American Southwest?

The mythical Seven Cities of Gold.

What did Juan Ponce de León seek in Florida for the Spanish Empire?

The Fountain of Youth.

What technological advancements made nautical exploration possible?

Ships like caravels and carracks, improved maps and charts, sextants, and astrolabes.

What role did powerful churches play in pre-colonial European societies?

They shaped societies and drove exploration.

What was the Reconquista and its impact on Spanish exploration?

It was the repelling of Muslim invaders, which motivated Spanish leaders to spread Catholicism.

How did the Protestant Reformation influence exploration?

Protestants sought religious freedom and economic opportunities.

What was the purpose of the Counter-Reformation in relation to exploration?

To spread Catholicism through colonization and missionary work.

What were the political and economic ambitions of European monarchs during exploration?

To expand empires and increase national wealth.

What resources did exploration open access to?

Precious metals and spices.

What was the significance of sponsoring voyages for European monarchs?

It was a way to compete with rival nations and religious sects for global dominance.

What challenges did explorers face during expeditions?

Funding difficulties, dangerous seas, unknown geography, and hostile environments.

What was the Triangular Trade?

A trade system linking Europe, Africa, the West Indies, and North America, exchanging goods and enslaved people.

What was the Columbian Exchange?

The exchange of food, ideas, and disease connecting the 'new world' with the 'old world'.

What goods were exchanged in the Triangular Trade?

Textiles, rum, manufactured goods, sugar, and tobacco.

How did mercantilism benefit European monarchs?

By gaining power and wealth through trade with their colonies.

What were some of the risks associated with funding expeditions?

High costs with no guarantee of success.

What often led to conflict between explorers and Indigenous peoples?

Resistance and cultural misunderstandings.

What type of ships were built for long ocean voyages during the Age of Exploration?

Caravels and carracks.

What tools allowed navigators to determine latitude using the stars?

Sextants and astrolabes.

What motivated European monarchs to seek new colonies?

To access new resources and establish strategic military posts.