Unit 5 "Exploration and Pre-columbian civilisations" Flashcards
How was Europe during the 15th Century?
Europe in the 15th Century was poor compared to other civilisations due to the several crisis that took date in the mid-14th Century.
How was population in the 15th Century?
Life expectancy was low due to famines, bad harvests, wars… But thanks to cities population began to grew slowly.
How was the societe organized in the 15th Century?
The society was organized into four groups with different privileges: Nobility and Clergy which were the privileged ones with polytical, economic and religous power. Commoners who mostly were beggars, merchants, day labourers… Slaves who didn’t have rights.
How was economy in the 15th Century?
Agriculture of olives, cereals, vines… and livestock farming of cattle, pigs, sheeps… were the two main economic activities.
Guilds controlled crafts. Trade was carried out in local markets.
How was the international trade in the 15th Century?
Silk was produced in large quantities in China, then it was imported to Constantinople through the Silk Route where it was moved to other coastal mediterranean cities.
Spices were produced in the South-East of Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Moluccas…) and used for giving flavour to our food as well as for preservering it.
How was the european interpretion of the world in the 15th Century?
Europeans knew well how Europe and North Africa, Asia was explored but not as well as Europe, of course America, South Africa, Oceania and Antartica were unexplored.
Which was the purpose of the beginning of the european expansion to the new world?
The purpose was a new trade route due to the turk conquest of Constantinople in 1453 which made the trade system to collapse.
Which were the new navigational instruments used in the beginning of the european expansion?
The astrolable and quadrant which showed latitude while measuring distance of the sun or the polar star over the horizon, the log and sandglass to measure ship’s speed and the compass which came from Asia and showed direction (North, South, East or West) thanks to a magnetised needdle which always pointed North.
What were the portolan or nautical charts?
Where a kind of maps used in the beginning of the european expansion that showed the distance of the closest ports of the territory where you were sailing. This was important for the develop of cartography.
Which were the innovations of the ship design in the european expansion era?
The rudders to change dyrection, square sails to sail at higher speeds, triangular sails to change course easily.
This innovations led to the design of new ship’s design: the Caravel which was lighter, safer and spacious. The Galleon apart from that was protected by cannons.
Introduction to the Portuguese expeditions to the new world:
Potugal was one of the countries which began to explore in the new world due to the collapse of the trade system. Prince Henry the Navigator wanted to reach Asia by sailing around Africa.
What territories did Portugal discovered in their expeditions?
Ceuta in 1415, Madeira in 1419, Azores in 1431, Cape Bojador in 1434, Cape Verde in 1446, Gulf of Guinea in 1460, Mouth of Congo River in 1482 by Diogo Cão, Cape of Good Hope in 1488 by Bartolomeu Dias, the voyage to Calicut done by Vasco da Gama in 1498 to help their pressence in the Indian Ocean, Porto Seguro in 1500 by Álvares Cabral and the voyage to Calicut done by Alfonso de Alburquerque in 1510 for the same purpose as Vasco da Gama.
Introduction to Castilla’s expeditions:
Castilla was another country that began to explore the new world thanks Cristobal Colón and the Catholic Monarchs. Cristobal Colón wanted to reach Asia by sailing to the West but the Portuguese monarchs rejected it, then he presented the plan to the Catholic Monarchs and decided to go with it.
The first voyage of Colón:
The fleet set sail from Palos de la Frontera (Huelva) the 3rd August 1492 and reached the island of Guanahaní which Colón named San Salvador the 12th October 1492. They stayed more time sailing through the islands of Juana (Cuba) and La Hispaniola (Santo Domingo).
What did Americo Vespucio discovered?
Américo Vespucio discovered that Colón didn’t sailed to Japan as he thought, Colón discovered a new world which laterly in his honour it would be named America. He did his discovery in the year 1499.
