Age of exploration and reformation

  1. Who was Jan Hus and what was his significance?
    Jan Hus was a Czech theologian and reformer who criticized the Catholic Church and was burned at the stake for heresy.

  2. What did John Wycliffe advocate for in the Church?
    John Wycliffe advocated for reform in the Church, including translating the Bible into vernacular languages.

  3. What is excommunication?
    Excommunication is the official exclusion of someone from participating in the sacraments and services of the Church.

  4. What were indulgences and why were they controversial?
    Indulgences were payments to the Church that were believed to reduce punishment for sins. They were controversial because people believed the Church was exploiting the faithful.

  5. What was the Treaty of Tordesillas?
    The Treaty of Tordesillas was a 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided newly discovered lands between the two countries.

  6. What is mercantilism?
    Mercantilism is an economic system in which governments controlled trade and used colonies and resources to increase their wealth and power.

  7. What was the Columbian Exchange?
    The Columbian Exchange was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, people, diseases, cultures, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World.

  8. Who was Magellan and what is he known for?
    Ferdinand Magellan was an explorer who led the expedition that became the first to circumnavigate the globe.

  9. What is lay investiture and why was it a point of contention?
    Lay investiture was the appointment of Church officials by secular authorities. It was controversial because it challenged the Church’s authority.

  10. What is simony?
    Simony is the buying or selling of Church offices or positions.

  11. What was the significance of the Gutenberg Press?
    The Gutenberg Press allowed books to be mass-produced, making information and the Bible much more widely available.

  12. Who was Martin Luther and what did he do?
    Martin Luther was a German monk who started the Protestant Reformation by criticizing Catholic Church practices.

  13. What were the 95 Theses?
    The 95 Theses were Martin Luther’s list of arguments criticizing Church practices, especially the sale of indulgences.

  14. What role did Vasco da Gama play in exploration?
    Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who became the first European to reach India by sea, opening a sea route to Asia.

  15. What were the Spice Islands and why were they significant?
    The Spice Islands, also called the Moluccas, were islands rich in valuable spices that attracted European explorers and traders.

  16. What impact did Columbus have on the New World?
    Columbus’s voyages helped begin European colonization of the Americas and increased the exchange of goods, people, diseases, and cultures.

  17. Who were Francisco Pizarro and Hernán Cortés?
    Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire. Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire.

  18. What is globalization in the context of historical trade?
    Globalization is the increasing interconnectedness of economies and cultures through trade, exploration, and the exchange of goods and ideas.

  19. What was the role of colonies in the Age of Exploration?
    Colonies were established by European powers to gain resources, expand trade, increase wealth, and spread their influence.

  20. Who was Prince Henry the Navigator?
    Prince Henry the Navigator was a Portuguese royal who sponsored voyages along the African coast and helped advance European navigation and exploration.