An Age of Exploration

A set of flashcards designed to help review key concepts from the 'Age of Exploration' lecture.

What were the major agrarian empires that dominated Eurasia?

Ming dynasty China, Mughal India, Safavid Iran, and the Ottoman Empire.

What was the focus of crafts and trade in agrarian empires?

Luxuries and arms, with a focus on items such as jewelry, textiles, and gunpowder weapons.

Who commanded the voyages for Ming dynasty China in the 15th century?

Admiral Zheng He.

What was the Reconquista?

The conquest of Muslim territories in the Iberian peninsula by the Christian states of Castile, Aragon, and Portugal, completed in 1492.

What was the significance of the year 1492 in relation to Columbus?

Columbus discovered the New World on his first voyage.

Which trade route was a major source of gold for medieval Europe?

The Trans-Sahara trade route.

What was the Tordesillas Line?

A demarcation set by the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 that divided the New World between Spain and Portugal.

What was the Ottoman Empire's significance in trade?

It closed trade routes to the east, impacting European access to Asian markets.

What was the purpose of Zheng He's voyages?

To establish Chinese prestige and expand trade relations.

What role did luxury goods play in agrarian states?

They demonstrated power and competition among elites.

What was one major product transported via the Trans-Sahara trade?

Gold.

Which empires were involved in the competition in the Indian Ocean?

The Portuguese, Spanish, and various Asian monarchies.

What was the importance of 1519 in relation to the Aztec Empire?

Hernán Cortés arrived to conquer the Aztec Empire.

What characterized the economies of the agrarian states of Europe during this period?

They were agrarian based, with elites taxing peasant producers.

Who were the Spanish explorers known for their maritime expeditions?

Columbus, Vespucci, and Magellan.

What territories did the Spanish Empire claim in the Americas?

Parts of modern-day Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America.

What was Matrioshka in the context of empires?

Structure of layered governance among various levels of power in empires.

What animals were significant in the Trans-Sahara trade?

Camels, as they were used in trade caravans.

What was the primary outcome of the expansion of the Ottoman Empire?

It closed trade routes to the east, limiting European access to Asian goods.

What empire existed in India during the period of exploration?

The Mughal Empire.

What was unique about Zheng He’s fleet in comparison to European ships?

Zheng He's ships were larger, called Treasure Ships.

How did the Reconquista influence later exploration?

It provided key experience for conquerors of the New World.

What luxury items were important in elite circles of the agrarian empires?

Jewelry, Iranian rugs, Chinese porcelain, and spices.

Where did the majority of the Slave Trade develop during this period?

Along the coast of West Africa, particularly in Senegal and Ghana.

What was the impact of the Columbian Exchange?

It fostered exchanges of crops, livestock, and diseases between the Americas and Europe.

What geographical region did the Safavid Empire control?

Iran and parts of the region surrounding it.

What document divided newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal?

The Treaty of Tordesillas.

How did European nations attempt to bypass African kingdoms controlling trade?

By trying to develop a maritime route for trade.

What cultural impact did the Columbian Exchange have?

An interchange of cultures and populations, leading to significant global changes.

What was the main economic activity in colonies established by European powers?

Exploitation of agricultural products and resources.

What was a major consequence of European exploration for indigenous populations?

It led to the colonization and significant population declines due to diseases.