Age of Exploration Flashcards
What year did Vasco da Gama reach India after circumnavigating Africa?
1498
Which Portuguese sailor successfully discovered a sea route to India in the late 1400s?
Vasco da Gama
What technology gave Portuguese sailing vessels military advantage in India?
Cannons and gunpowder
What vices often undermined Portuguese military conflicts in India?
Honour and the desire for loot.
Who was the military governor and strategic genius who secured Portugal’s place in India and established the Portuguese Asian empire in early 1500s?
Alfonso de Albuquerque
In what year did Cortez and Montezuma meet?
1518
What parties were involved in the first meeting between leader of a new world civilisation and explorer?
Cortés of Spain, Montezuma of Aztec/Mexica
What was the main city of the Aztecs/Mexica?
Tenochtitlan
How populous was Tenochtitlan compared to other European cities in 1500?
It ranked second biggest behind Constantinople (ahead of Paris, Naples, Milan). Bigger than any Spanish city (200,000)
Why did Montezuma submit to Cortez?
Because he thought they were gods, feared their power, thought diplomacy was the best move, got Stockholm syndrome.
Why did the tide turn in Tenochtitlan between the Mexican and Spanish?
Because Cortez needed to leave to challenge the Spanish Narvaez on the coast. This coincided with a big Mexican festival.
When was the battle for Tenochtitlan?
1522
