Magellan
Often credited with being the first to circumnavigate the globe, though he did not make it home.
State Sponsored Exploration
Exploration funded by the government, as seen with Portugal and Spain.
Henry Hudson
He was tasked with finding a northeast passage and ultimately discovered the Hudson River.
Prince Henry the Navigator
An important figure in Portugal's exploration, credited with establishing a royal school for training navigators.
Sugar Cane
An eastern hemisphere crop that became a vital crop in the Caribbean and South America.
Cortez
Spanish explorer who brought down the Aztec Empire.
Pizarro
Spanish explorer who conquered the Inca Empire.
Potatoes
A New World crop from the Andes mountains, which became a staple food in places like Ireland.
Mercantilism
An economic theory emphasizing the importance of colonies for securing new markets and resources.
Economic Terminology
Includes concepts like markets, resources, and the transformation from mercantilism to capitalism.
Exploration
The act of traveling or searching for the purpose of discovery.
Astrolabe
An ancient instrument used for solving problems relating to time and the position of the stars.
Caravel
A small, fast Spanish or Portuguese sailing ship of the 15th-17th centuries.
Colony
A territory governed by a foreign power.
Treaty of Tordesillas
A treaty between Spain and Portugal in 1494 that divided the newly discovered lands.
Navigation
The process of planning and following a route, essential for exploration.
Compass
An instrument used for determining direction relative to the Earth's magnetic poles.
Circumnavigation
The act of traveling all the way around something, such as the Earth.
Indigenous Peoples
Ethnic groups who are the original inhabitants of a region.
Voyages
Long journeys involving travel by sea.