Age of exploration - origins and causes

Question 1

What were the main reasons for the Age of Exploration?

Answer 1

• the demand for spices created the need to search for a new route to the East
• the desire of European rulers to spread Christianity
• the support of rulers throughout Europe who wanted to create wealth and grow new empires
• advances in shipbuilding and navigation
• the Renaissance in Europe was a time of new learning….there was a great interest in finding out more about the world

Question 2

What were spices used for?

Answer 2

• to preserve food
• to add flavor to food
• helped to cure diseases

Question 3

what were the main spices in demand?

Answer 3

Cinnamon from China
Pepper from India
Nutmeg and cloves from the Spice Islands

Question 4

what were the main improvements in shipbuilding that served as a catalyst for the age of exploration?

Answer 4

• in 1400, the Portuguese invested a new type of ship called a caravel. It had:
• triangular ‘lateen’ sails that were easier to navigate
• watertight decks to make ships safer in bad weather
• ships were small, fast, and easier to sail

Question 5

what were the main improvements in navigation?

Answer 5

• the astrolobe to find the ship’s latitude (how far north or south of the equator)
• a compass to give the ships direction (a magnetic compass would point to the magnetiic north)
• the use of log and line to measure the ship’s speed