Effects of the Age of Exploration (copy)

What time period does the Age of Exploration span?

The Age of Exploration spanned the years from 1400 to 1800.

Which European nations were the primary maritime powers during the Age of Exploration?

Portugal, Spain, England, and France.

What were the Three G's of European expansion?

Gold (commercial wealth), God (evangelical impulse), and Glory (national prestige and fame).

What was a significant reason European monarchs sought direct oceanic routes to Asia?

To bypass the Italian-Muslim commercial monopoly and reduce import expenses.

What primary function did spices serve in Europe during the Age of Exploration?

Preserving meats, enhancing flavor in food, and serving as ingredients in medicine and perfumes.

What limitations did Portolani face as navigational charts?

They were inaccurate for transoceanic voyages because they were drawn on flat projections that did not account for the Earth's curvature.

What instrument allowed navigators to calculate a ship's latitude?

The astrolabe.

Who was Prince Henry the Navigator, and what was his role?

He initiated and financed Portugal's maritime expansion and established a school of navigation.

What was the significance of Vasco da Gama's voyage?

He led the first expedition to reach India by sailing around Africa, drastically changing European trade routes.

What was the Treaty of Tordesillas?

A treaty that divided newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal.

How did the Dutch Republic challenge Portuguese dominance in Asia?

By establishing the Dutch East India Company and seizing control of key trading posts.

What was the encomienda system?

A forced labor system established by the Spanish Crown to exploit Indigenous labor in the Americas.

What was the impact of European diseases on Indigenous populations?

Virgin-soil epidemics caused an estimated 90% mortality rate among Native Americans following European contact.

What were the main components of the Triangular Trade?

Manufactured goods from Europe to Africa, enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas, and raw materials from the Americas to Europe.

What agricultural crop was a staple in Mesoamerican civilizations?

Maize (corn).

What characterized the social hierarchy in the Aztec Empire?

A stratified society with aristocratic nobility above commoner agriculturalists.

What were the primary goals of the Spanish conquistadors during their conquests?

To extract wealth, spread Christianity, and gain fame and glory.

What crop was introduced to Europeans through the Columbian Exchange that had a significant impact on population growth?

Maize.