Western Civilization - Age of Exploration Flashcards

Flashcards about the Age of Exploration.

When did the Age of Exploration occur?

Early 1400s to the 1600s

What were the primary motivations for European exploration?

Gold, God, and Glory

Who controlled the overland trade routes before the Age of Exploration?

Muslim and Italian merchants

What were the key technological advancements that enabled the Age of Exploration?

Astrolabe, Caravel, Rudder, Compass, Improved maps

Which European nation was the first to explore during the Age of Exploration?

Portugal

Who established the first sea route to India by sailing around Africa?

Vasco de Gama

Which nation became the most powerful by the 1500s due to colonization of the Americas?

Spain

Where did Columbus first land in 1492?

The Bahamas

What characterized the initial interactions between the Spanish and Native Americans?

Violence, conquest, and forced labor

What were the main reasons for conflict between the Spanish and Native Americans?

Cultural differences, Land ownership, Religion

What impact did Horses have?

Revolutionized Native American life through warfare, hunting and transport.

What was the Requerimiento?

A document demanding Native American submission to Spanish rule and Christianity.

What was Vasco da Gama's primary contribution to exploration?

The first sea route to India by sailing around Africa

What was Christopher Columbus's contribution to exploration?

Discovered the Americas (Bahamas) in 1492

Who was Hernán Cortés?

Conquered the Aztecs

Who was Francisco Pizarro?

Conquered the Incas

What was Henry Hudson known for?

Searched for a northwest passage to India but found Canada (Hudson River)

What was Prince Henry the Navigator known for?

Funded Portuguese exploration (schools)

What was John Cabot known for?

Explored North America for England

What was Ponce de León known for?

Explored Florida, and Searched for the “Fountain of Youth”

What was Ferdinand Magellan known for?

The first circumnavigation of the globe proves the world is round

Who was Amerigo Vespucci?

Named the “Americas” in 1507; he went further with Columbus’s studies

What is the Columbian Exchange?

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, diseases, people, and culture between the New World and the Old World.

Name some items that went from the Old World to the New World.

Horses, pigs, cattle, smallpox, measles, influenza, wheat, sugarcane, rice, grapes

Name some items that went from the New World to the Old World.

Maize, potatoes, tomatoes, cacao

What impact did potatoes have?

Boosted European population; supported food supply in Europe and Africa.

What were the effects of the Columbian Exchange?

Population shifts, cultural blending, environmental changes, and expansion of trade

What is a favorable balance of trade?

Exporting more than importing to build wealth.

What is Mercantilism?

The economic system in which colonies exist to benefit the Mother Country.

What did Colonies provide?

Raw materials at low prices

What did the Mother Country provide?

Manufactured goods

What is Capitalism?

Emerged as trade expanded, based on private ownership and investment.

What are the three stops in the Triangular Trade?

Europe → Africa: Guns, goods. Africa → Americas: Enslaved Africans. Americas → Europe: Raw materials

Who benefited most from the Triangular Trade?

European merchants and nations

What was the impact of the slave trade on Africa?

Loss of population, tribal conflict, and disrupted societies

What was the impact of the slave trade on the Americas?

An economic boost and plantation labor and cultural influences

What is the Age of Exploration?

Period of European overseas exploration (1400s–1600s)

What is an Astrolabe?

Tool used to determine latitude at sea

What is a Caravel?

An advanced sailing ship designed for long voyages, which made it faster and easier

What is the Encomienda System?

Spanish labor system: forced Native labor in exchange for protection

What is the Treaty of Tordesillas?

1494 agreement dividing new lands between Spain and Portugal

What is the Columbian Exchange?

Transfer of goods, animals, plants, and disease between New & Old Worlds following the voyages of Columbus.

What is the Atlantic Slave Trade?

Forced migration of Africans to the Americas for labor

What is the Middle Passage?

The horrific sea journey of enslaved Africans to the Americas

What is a Favorable Balance of Trade?

Exporting more than importing to gain wealth.

What is Mercantilism?

An economic system where colonies support the Mother Country

What is Capitalism?

An economic system based on private ownership and profit