Age of Discovery Flashcards
Prince Henry the Navigator
From Portugal, set up an oceanic navigation school at Sagres in Portugal. Worked on improving ships and explored west Africa from this school. So important for setting the stage for the modern world.
Bartholomew Diaz
Discovered the tip of Africa or the idea that Africa “ended,” rounded the Cape of Good Hope. Showed that the Atlantic and Indian oceans flowed into each other; before it was believed that the Indian Ocean was landlocked.
Vasco da Gama
First person to sail directly from Europe to India around Africa. He did this by rounding the Cape in 1497 and then landing in Calicut, India in 1498. He helped create a Portuguese foothold in India by the early 1500s. Dodged scurvy and made his journey 3000% profit.
Queen Isabella/ King Ferdinand
Queen and King of Spain, funded Columbus’ voyage to the Americas/ New World. Isabella wanted to spread Christianity.
Christopher Columbus
Italian explorer that believed that sailing west to east was the best option to get new sources of wealth.
Pope Alexander VI
When explorers landed somewhere, they would stick the flag down and claim it for their country. The problem was that the Spanish and Portuguese wanted the same places, but since they were both Roman Catholic, the pope (the leader of the Roman Catholic empire) stepped in. He set the Line of Demarcation in 1493. This line gave the Portuguese the eastern side and Spain the western side. AKA the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494
Amerigo Vespucci
Italian explorer that was the first to identify the New World as a New Continent. German mapmaker, Martin Waldseemuler placed Amerigo’s name on his 1507 world map
Balboa
Spanish explorer, first European to see the Pacific ocean (south sea) by sailing through the Caribbean and landing in Panama.
Magellan
Spanish; His crew was the first to circumnavigate the world. Involved in a conflict with the Philippines along the way and was killed.
Hernan Cortez
Spanish, went to Mexico with 600 men and 16 horses. Moctezuma, leader of the Aztecs welcomed them and then tried to drive them out. Cortes conquered the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, in 1521 and built Mexico City. Blueprint for conquering made a book that inspired Pizarro.
Francisco Pizarro
Spanish, conquered the Inca Empire in Peru after following Cortes. Killed its leader, Atahualpa then went to Ecuador and Chile.
Line of Demarcation/ Treaty of Tordesillas
When explorers landed somewhere, they would stick the flag down and claim it for their country. The problem was that the Spanish and Portuguese wanted the same places, but since they were both Roman Catholic, the pope (the leader of the Roman Catholic empire) stepped in. He set the Line of Demarcation in 1493. This line gave the Portuguese the eastern side and Spain the western side. AKA the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494
cartography
the science or practice of drawing maps
circumnavigation
sailing around the globe, all the way
Conquisadors
one that conquers, like the Spanish of the Aztec and the Inca
Aztec Empire
dominant in Mexico, conquered by Cortes
Incan Empire
dominant in Peru, conquered by Pizarro
chattel
ownership of humans, where a slave has the legal status of the property so he can be sold as property
social classes in “New World”
Peninsulares - born in Spain
Creoles - American-born descendants of Spanish Mestizo - native American and European Mulattoes - African and European
encomienda
the right to demand labor established by the Spanish Crown; rewarded the Spanish with land and laborers
Viceroy
representatives who controlled colonies in the King’s name
Columbian Exchange
trade of foods, animals, diseases, people from Europe to America to Asia
inflation
population increase = greater demand = higher prices
Mercantilism
there are a fixed amount of resources in the world; export more than you import; colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country
Mughal Empire
strong leadership and unity under capable leaders. Gave European powers trading rights, really only to sell their own products and then get money. Covered more than 1.2 million square miles and ruled ¼ of the world’s population at the time. Controlled most of India. Weakened by conflict and succumbed to the powers of the wet. After, the British became dominant in India.
Ming Empire
China; restricted european trade to only trading season and through on location “Guangzhou.” Taken over in 1644 by Manchus
Qing Empire
final imperial dynasty in China; started by Manchus. Enforced culturally restrictive policies: no intermarriage with Chinese and no foot binding. Qing emphasized teachings and philosophy of Confucius. Pushed for more exports than imports, hated merchants.
Tokugawa Shogunate
japanese dynasty; cut off trade with the west, persecuted Christians, forbade Japanese from leaving, isolated until Matthew Perry in 1853
How was the Age of Discovery related to the Renaissance, Reformation, and maybe even the Scientific Revolution?
Both surrounded the Roman Catholic Church, Europe, new ideas/ philosophies, etc. There was an increasing search for knowledge and to know things beyond ordinary life.
Additionally, they all countered the Catholic Church teachings: the Renaissance brought intellectual discovery and less reliance on the church, the Reformation allowed people to recognize the corruption of the church, and the Scientific revolution separated religion from science.
What historical certainty does the rise and fall of Portugal, the Dutch, and Spain demonstrate?
The idea that rise and fall or competition occurs in history. The Portuguese began with control of the spice trade, then the Dutch, then the English. Building upon the idea of survival of the fittest, the more powerful nation thrives; however, this can change quickly.
How were just a few hundred Spanish soldiers able to take up so much land and defeat thousands of Aztecs and Incas?
Military tactics (steel swords, guns, armor, horses), disease (small pox), native division (division is weakness, Inca Civil War before Spanish arrived, Spanish took advantage of this division), political support from the mother country (money, men, boats, etc.), and having a written language (by the Spanish, document journeys like Cortes).
What impacts did the takeover of the new World by Europeans have on the World?
The Columbian Exchange. Brought foods, goods, weapons, ideas, plants, animals, religion, and people to the New World. This would advance, but also set back the New World significantly.
How do we know the leaders of the Mughal and Qing Empires were strong, capable, and stable?
The leaders of the Mughal and Qing Empires were strong, capable, and stable due to the fact that they each lead for decades at a time. This allowed consistency within the Empires and large population increases.
Examples of these emperors: Kangxi and Qianlong
Why were the empires in Asia initially able to resist encroachment or even takeover by Europeans? Why did that Change?
These empires were initially able to resist encroachment by Europeans by:
Expanding with land
Emperors were well-liked or respected enough to keep people in line
Like Marshal Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia
Restricted trade
Only one place to trade “Guangzhou”
Trading “season”
High demands, little supply
People go crazy or jump through hoops for the goods
Long ruling leaders
Consistent
FDR ruled long, strong leader
Putin shows the opposite
Good thing in Qing Empire though
This changed as these empires grew more isolationist. Since they weren’t allowing trade or outside ideas, other countries were technologically advancing. Guns were being introduced which proved how dated the Chinese and Japanese Empires were.
Akbar the Great
- extended the reach of the dynasty; India tripled in size/ wealth, political, social, cultural reforms, religious tolerance
Shah Jahan
- Golden Age of the Mughal Empire, political, cultural, economic development; built the Taj Mahal; patron of architecture
Shahanshah Aurandzeb
- continued expansion, last mughal ruler; his policies led to its dissolution
