Study Guide

Unit 1: Age of Exploratoin

Vocabulary
Context
Silk Road
Marco Polo
Trans-Saharan Trade
Ibn Battuta
Zheng He
Crusades
Renaissance
Characters
Prince Henry the Navigator
Gil Eanes
Bartolomeu Dias
King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella of Spain
Christopher Columbus
John Cabot
Vasco da Gama
Amerigo Vespucci
Vasco Nuez de Balboa
Ferdinand Magellan
Conquistador
Hernan Cortes
Francisco Pizzaro
Giovanni da Verazzano
Henry Hudson
Conflict
Ottoman Empire
Fall of Constantinople
Spice Trade
Plot
Astrolabe
Caravel
Cape Verde Islands
New World
Straight of Magellan
Circumnavigate
Northwest Passage
Resolution
Columbian Exchange
Small Pox
Colony
Analysis
Setting
1. Explain three major causes for the Age of Exploration?

Conflict
2. Assess the role of the Ottoman Empire in Europes period of exploration?

Characters
3. Name three explorers and describe the importance of their travels for future exploration.

Plot
4. Identify three new technological advances and explain their impact on exploration.

Resolution
5. Explain the impact of the Age of Exploration upon the world.

Theme
6. Discuss the various motivations for exploration.
 Study Guide
Unit 1: Age of Exploratoin
Vocabulary
Context
Silk Road The overland route from China to the Middle East
Marco Polo Venetian (Italian) merchant whose recorded travels influenced Europe.
Trans-Saharan Trade Trade route primarily of salt from the Sahara for gold in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ibn Battuta Moroccan scholar who recorded his pilgrimage to Mecca and travels beyond.
Zheng He Chinese diplomat who traveled the Indian Ocean to display Chinas wealth and power.
Crusades A Christian war to recover the Holy Land from Muslims that exposed Europeans to
Eastern civilization
Renaissance A European period of renewed interest in Classical learning.
Characters
Prince Henry the Navigator A Portuguese sponsor of exploration along the Western Coast of Africa
Gil Eanes Portuguese explorer whose passage of the Cape of Bojador began exploration of Africa
Bartolomeu Dias Portuguese explorer who rounded the southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope
King Ferdinand and Queen Spanish rulers who captured the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rulers and sponsored
Isabella of Spain exploration
Christopher Columbus Italian sailor who was sponsored by Spain to search for a western route to Asia and
encountered the Americas
John Cabot Venetian sailor commissioned by England who explored North America
Vasco da Gama Portuguese explorer who linked Europe and Asia by rounding Africa to India
Amerigo Vespucci Italian explorer who voyaged to South America and demonstrated that the Americas
were not Asia but a new land mass. The Americas were named after him.
Vasco Nuez de Balboa Spanish explorer who reached the Pacific by crossing the isthmus of Panama
Ferdinand Magellan Portuguese explorer who organized the first circumnavigation of the earth.
Conquistador Explorer and soldier who colonized much of the world for Spain and Portugal
Hernan Cortes Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztecs
Francisco Pizzaro Spanish conquistador who conquered the Incans
Giovanni da Verazzano Italian explorer commissioned by France exploring the North American coast
Henry Hudson English explorer who searched for the rumored Northwest Passage to Asia
Conflict
Ottoman Empire The Muslim Ottomans competed with Europe for trade
Fall of Constantinople Sultan Mehmet II conquered the Byzantine capital, capturing an important trade port
Spice Trade Spices were a valuable commodity that Europeans desired greater access to.
Plot
Astrolabe Navigational instrument for determining latitude
Caravel A more maneuverable type of ship with its lateen sail important for exploration
Cape Verde Islands Islands off the West African coast colonized by the Portuguese and link in slave trade
New World A name given by Europeans for the Americas, in contrast to the known Old World of
Afro-Eurasia.
Straight of Magellan The southern tip of South America named after Ferdinand Magellan
Circumnavigate Travel all the way around the entire planet
Northwest Passage A rumored passage from Europe to Asia north of North America.
Resolution
Columbian Exchange The exchange of plants, animals, culture between the Americas and the Old World
Small Pox Eurasian disease brought by European explorers that devastated Native Americans
Colony A permanent settlement formed and controlled by a country in a distant land.
Analysis
Setting
1. Explain three major causes for the Age of Exploration?
During the Middle Ages, the main centers of culture and learning were in Asia. While there was significant trade at the
time, it was typically regional with merchants from different regions trading at connecting cities. Popular goods like silk,
spices, porcelain and cotton traveled from Asia to Europe. The Crusades exposed Europeans to the civilizations of Asia
and prompted an increasing demand for their luxuries. It also created an increasing interest in the wider world that
sparked the Renaissance. The exposure through the Crusades, the increasing demand for Asian goods, and renewed
interest in learning during the Renaissance all contributed to the Age of Exploration.

Conflict
2. Assess the role of the Ottoman Empire in Europes period of exploration?
The growing power of the Ottoman empire in the Middle East limited European access to the spice trade. With the fall of
Constantinople into Ottoman hands under the leadership of Mehmet II, Europeans lost a major trade city. Europeans
therefore attempted to find a new trade route to Asia.

Characters
3. Name three explorers and describe the importance of their travels for future exploration.
The Portuguese led the way in exploration under Prince Henry. He sponsored many voyages along the west African
coast. The greatest success was Bartolomeu Dias reaching the southern tip of Africa. This opened a new path to Asia that
was ultimately completed by Vasco da Gama.

The Spanish crown followed by sponsoring Christopher Columbus who sought a westward passage to Asia, but
encountered the Americas instead. Initially the Americas were more of an obstacle to be overcome in finding a way to
Asia, which Ferdinand Magellan completed by rounding the southern tip of South America.

France and England were the last to join in exploration and they focused primarily of North America. Henry Hudson
hoped to find a third way to Asia, the Northwest Passage, but no route was found.

Plot
4. Identify three new technological advances and explain their impact on exploration.
The exposure of Europeans to Asian civilization during the Crusades was important for the diffusion of important
technologies. The compass invented by the Chinese was an essential tool for navigation. The astrolabe (or quadrant)
from the Middle East helped sailors determine their latitude. Map-making likewise became increasingly important as
explorers left coastlines for the open ocean. Finally, the caravel with lateen sails gave explorers better control and
speed.

Resolution
5. Explain the impact of the Age of Exploration upon the world.
European became increasingly powerful through trade and colonization of the Americas. (Cortez and Pizarro conquered
the greatest civilizations of the Americas.) It also marked an important step toward globalization as distant regional
markets became directly connected.

Theme
6. Discuss the various motivations for exploration.
Europeans coming out of the conflicts with Muslims had a strong desire to convert people to Christianity. Nevertheless,
the driving force for exploration was economic. Explorers and their sponsors were looking for trade routes and control
of precious commodities. As exploration expanded the European conception of the world, it prompted a desire for
further knowledge.