Age of exploration Flashcards
What is the spice trade
The spice trade is the key reason for the exploration.Spices were worth a lot of money.
The spice trade was a difficult business:
*Spices were transported overland on a long dangerous route that was controlled by Muslim leaders.
*When they reached the mediteranean, merchants from Genoa and Vinice bought them
*They brought them to Europe and sold them at a great profit
*The taxes charged by the Muslims were high
*Often the Muslims were at war with the Christians in Europe
What were spices used for
- preserve food
- add flavour to food
- cure disease
Why did they get permission to go on these voyages
- They wanted to gain control of the spice industry and the wealth behind it
- Many rulers were interested in gold and jewels
- They saw the chance to capture land and build an empire
- They also wanted to spread christianity
How was the renaissance one of the reasons the age of exploration begun
During the renaissance people began thinking and old teachings were questioned they started map making
What is another word for map making
cartography
What are some of the myths and legends
- The Portuguese were looking for prester john and african christian king
- El Dorado a city covered with gold
- fountain of youth was a fountain that made you forever young
What is a lateen sail
A triangular sail that was easy to turn this was on a small boat not strong boat
What does clinker built mean
Overlapping panels this was on big ships with square sails
What is a caravel
A clinker built ship with lateen sails
What was an astrolabe
It was used to find out the ships position north or south of the equator this is called latitude
What else was used to measure latitude
Quadrants and cross-staffs
What item was used to find out which direction to go
Compass
How did people measure speed at sea
Log and line was the name of the method of measuring speed.A sailor threw a piece of log into the sea from the back of the boat.This was attached to a reel of knotted rope.The amount of rope that was pulled by the wood in one minute was then measured .
What was time measured with
An hourglass
What is scurvy
Lack of vitamin C.The cure to scurvy is to eat fresh food or veg
