Exploring empires Flashcards
which empire was the first to travel overseas and when?
The Portuguese (1415)
Who was Prince Henry, what did he do? and what did he want?
Prince Henry ‘the Navigator’ was Portuguese who explored Africa and wanted to find Prester John.
When was the Cape of Good Hope reached?
Prince Henry (1488) + colonised it
How did the Portuguese make so much money in Africa?
Traded goods + food for Gold +Slaves
How did the Portuguese show their wealth?
they made a gold currency, ‘the cruzado’
Portuguese exploration quote, to show size
“almost every island and island group of any value in the Atlantic” (A.R. Disney)
What did Vasco Da Gamma do? + quote
became powerful in the Indian Ocean, discovered a way to India.
“finally the Muslim world with its countless middlemen had been outflanked”
Why was it possible for Vasco Da Gamma to control the Indian ocean?
The Chinese withdrew from the ocean, leaving Vasco with no competition, he also had superior technology.
Why did the Chinese withdraw from the Indian ocean? What effect did this have on other countries?
to protect from the Mongols. Created a power vacuum, Arabs [Islam] seized the opportunity to become powerful.
What two people wed to create the Spanish Empire?
Ferdinand + Isabella
Why were the Spanish late to explore?
too busy expelling the Moors and Jewish from their country. Using crusades.
How many Jewish people left Spain, how did this make the Empire so powerful?
70,000 left, leaving all their belongings to the crown.
Why did the Spanish and Portuguese explore?
God, Gold, Glory.
What year was America discovered?
1492, Columbus
Why was the treaty of Tordesillas brought about?
Portugal was pissy about Columbus, so almost started a war. The pope stepped in to avoid this creating Spain and not Spain.
