Renaissance Chapter 5 Flashcards
Define compass.
Used for finding the direction a ship is traveling.
What is the origin of the compass?
Probably developed in China about 1700 years ago, used by Muslim travelers in navigation.
Define astrolabe.
Used North Star and/or sun to calculate latitude.
What is the origin of the astrolabe?
Probably invented by ancient Greeks, further developed by Arabian mathematicians/astronomers.
Define cross-staff.
Used to measure the altitude of Pole Star above the horizon to determine latitude.
What is the origin of the cross-staff?
Invented around 1342 for astronomy and was first used around 1514 for navigation.
Define back-staff.
Measures the altitude of the sun to determine latitude.
What is the origin of the back-staff?
Developed in 1594 as an improvement of the cross-staff.
Define circumnavigate.
Travel completely around something where the start and finish point is the same; to travel the world.
Define expansionism.
The actions and attitudes of a state/country whose goal is to expand its power/territory.
Define navigation.
The science of determining the course, position and distance traveled, especially of a ship.
Define imperialism.
Extension of power over a territory, including its resources and people.
Define mutiny.
Rebellion against any authority.
Why were oceans still unknown during the Renaissance? (3)
- They supposedly contained monsters.
- Waters were treacherous.
- Ships were not built to withstand such unknowns.
What did Christopher Columbus do?
Despite the fear of the oceans, he ventured out in his ships with the support of the Spanish monarchs.
What did merchants do during the age of exploration and why?
Merchants invested in new business ventures across Europe. The economic worldview of the time encouraged growth and expansion. Trade grew across Europe as people with money demanded luxury goods.
What did the economic worldview of the age of exploration encourage? (2)
- Growth.
2. Expansion.
How did the price of goods increase?
Renaissance people thrived on the exotic goods from Asia; their greed drove them to trade more to gather more Asian goods. As goods passed through more and more hands, the price of those goods increased each time they passed through yet another set of hands. Sometimes, products sold back in Italy cost 100, 1000, or even 2000 times their original price.
What did Europeans think of the increasing prices of goods?
Europeans resented the high prices that they were forced to pay so people began to wonder how they could get involved in this enterprise.
What were the factors that made trade routes no longer protected? (2)
- The fall of the Mongolian empire.
2. The conquest of Christian Constantinople by the Muslim Turks.
What was the result of trade routes no longer being protected?
Traders would often get ambushed being left without their goods, or worse, dead.
What did the unsafety of trade routes lead to?
Traders, merchants, and explorers began looking for different trade routes that were safer. Europeans believed there was a sea route to Asia to get their goods: but which way did they have to go?
Who began looking for a sea route to Asia? (3)
- Traders.
- Merchants.
- Explorers.
What was happening to European mines during the age of exploration?
They were running out of gold and silver.