Unit 4.1 - Technological Innovations

key terms/events and significance

Cartography

• Definition: Map-making

• Significance: Improved navigation along with the knowledge of current & wind patterns

Maritime Empires

• Definition: Spain, Portugal, Great Britain, France & Holland

• Significance:

  • Ones based on sea travel

  • Extensive trade transformed them into maritime empires

Advances in Ideas

• Definition: 

  • More scholars gathered knowledge

  • Newton’s discovery of gravitation

  • Increasing accurate record of wind’s direction & intensity

  • Astronomical chart map of stars & galaxies

• Significance:

  • Improved the safety of sailing the ocean

  • Increased knowledge of the tide → sailors reliably predict depth of near-shore water & expose rocks

  • Sailors sailed with greater confidence

  • Guide ships’s direction before compass

Advances in Equipments

• Definition: 

  • Rudder (new from China)

  • Astrolobe (Muslims / 12th century)

  • Compass (works with magnets / gyroscope / magnetic compass)

  • Lateen sail: triangular ship sail / catch wind from many directions + new types of ships

• Significance:

  • Made sailing safer, faster & ships moved adroitly

  • Sailors could determine how far North or South they were from the equator

  • Navigation / location of the Sun or a specific star / sailors steered the ship in a right direction

  • Navigation / travel in different directions → expanded trade

Long Term Results

• Definition:

  • Combination of European navigational techniques + those from other areas around the world

  • Gunpowder → Aided in European conquests abroad

  • Islam → spread rapidly (growth of Abbasid Empire — centered in Baghdad + Muslim merchants activities)

  • North Africa + Africa’s east coast → extensive trade + technology to the continent

  • Russia → Navigational techniques → build military & naval power

• Significance: Rapid expansion of exploration & global trade

Explain how new maritime technology caused changes in cross-cultural interactions from 1450 - 1750.

New technologies made trade flourished due to the improvement in navigation, enacting more global interactions. More exploration and expedition occur to help bring more wealth to the country. New technologies also help to ensure the safety of sailors and reduced risks while making navigation more efficient.