1. What were the primary motivations behind Portugal and Spain’s Age of Exploration?
Answer:
- Economic Motivations:
- Desire for wealth, particularly through trade in spices, gold, and luxury goods.
- Establishing new trade routes to Asia bypassing Ottoman-controlled territories.
- Religious Motivations:
- Spreading Christianity to newly discovered lands.
- Competition with Muslim traders and rulers.
- Political Motivations:
- Enhancing national prestige through territorial expansion.
- Consolidation of power by monarchs like King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
2. How did Prince Henry the Navigator contribute to Portugal’s exploration efforts?
Answer:
- Establishment of a Navigation School:
- Advanced training for sailors in cartography, shipbuilding, and navigation.
- Support for Expeditions:
- Funded voyages along Africa’s west coast to explore trade opportunities.
- Technological Innovations:
- Development of the caravel, a ship better suited for long voyages.
3. What was the significance of Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India in 1498?
Answer:
- Trade Route Establishment:
- Opened a direct sea route to India, bypassing the Ottoman monopoly on overland routes.
- Economic Impact:
- Portugal gained control over the lucrative spice trade.
- Geopolitical Influence:
- Strengthened Portugal’s dominance in global trade and exploration.
4. How did Christopher Columbus’s voyages reshape world history?
Answer:
- Discovery of the Americas:
- Initiated European colonization of the New World.
- Cultural Exchange:
- Facilitated the Columbian Exchange, introducing new crops, animals, and diseases.
- Colonial Expansion:
- Spain established its dominance in the Americas, leading to significant wealth through mining and agriculture.
5. What was the Treaty of Tordesillas, and how did it shape exploration?
Answer:
- Definition:
- A 1494 agreement mediated by the Pope to divide new territories between Spain and Portugal.
- Division Line:
- Lands west of the line went to Spain, and lands east went to Portugal.
- Impact:
- Reduced conflicts between the two nations while allowing both to expand their empires.
6. How did Bartolomeu Dias’s journey influence Portuguese exploration?
Answer:
- Discovery of the Cape of Good Hope:
- Proved the possibility of reaching the Indian Ocean by sea.
- Inspiration for Further Expeditions:
- Encouraged Vasco da Gama’s successful voyage to India.
7. What role did Ferdinand Magellan play in the Age of Exploration?
Answer:
- Circumnavigation of the Globe:
- Magellan’s expedition (1519-1522) proved the Earth’s roundness and paved the way for global maritime trade.
- Spanish Expansion:
- Strengthened Spain’s claims in the Pacific and facilitated the colonization of the Philippines.
8. What economic systems did Spain implement in its colonies?
Answer:
- Encomienda System:
- Granted Spanish settlers control over indigenous labor and tribute.
- Mining Operations:
- Extensive extraction of gold and silver, particularly from Mexico and Peru.
- Agriculture:
- Development of plantation systems to grow cash crops like sugarcane.
9. How did the Portuguese establish their presence in Asia?
Answer:
- Control of Trade Routes:
- Dominated spice trade through key ports like Goa, Malacca, and Macao.
- Naval Strength:
- Established fortresses to protect trade interests.
- Diplomatic Relations:
- Formed alliances with local rulers to secure trading privileges.
10. What technological advancements supported Iberian exploration?
Answer:
- Navigational Tools:
- Use of the astrolabe and magnetic compass.
- Ship Design:
- Introduction of the caravel, which was fast and maneuverable.
- Cartography:
- Improved maps incorporating new discoveries.
11. What impact did the Columbian Exchange have on Europe and the Americas?
Answer:
- For Europe:
- Introduction of new crops like potatoes, tomatoes, and maize.
- Boosted population growth and economic development.
- For the Americas:
- Introduction of European livestock and technology.
- Devastation of indigenous populations due to diseases.
12. How did the Spanish conquest affect indigenous civilizations?
Answer:
- Destruction of Empires:
- Fall of the Aztec and Inca Empires due to military conquests.
- Cultural Transformation:
- Forced conversion to Christianity and suppression of native traditions.
- Population Decline:
- Massive loss of life from diseases like smallpox and brutal labor systems.
13. How did Portugal’s discovery of Brazil impact its empire?
Answer:
- Economic Benefits:
- Development of sugarcane plantations, becoming a major export.
- Colonial Administration:
- Establishment of governance structures to exploit resources.
14. How did the Iberian empires influence global trade?
Answer:
- Creation of Trade Networks:
- Linked Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas through maritime routes.
- Flow of Goods:
- Export of spices, silver, and textiles; import of luxury goods and slaves.
15. What role did the Catholic Church play in Iberian exploration?
Answer:
- Religious Motivation:
- Supported the spread of Christianity to new territories.
- Justification for Conquest:
- The Church endorsed the subjugation of non-Christian peoples.
- Missionary Efforts:
- Established missions to convert indigenous populations.
16. How did Spain and Portugal’s rivalry shape their colonial strategies?
Answer:
- Competition for Territories:
- Race to claim new lands and resources.
- Treaties and Agreements:
- The Treaty of Tordesillas ensured a division of spheres of influence.
17. What were the social impacts of Iberian exploration on Europe?
Answer:
- Wealth Accumulation:
- Influx of gold and silver strengthened European economies.
- Cultural Exchange:
- Introduction of new foods and ideas from the Americas.
18. How did the Iberian explorers influence the African slave trade?
Answer:
- Expansion of Slave Trade:
- Portuguese traders established large-scale trading of enslaved Africans.
- Labor in Colonies:
- African slaves were crucial for plantation agriculture in the Americas.
19. How did the Age of Exploration affect global geopolitics?
Answer:
- Shift in Power:
- Spain and Portugal emerged as global powers.
- Colonial Rivalries:
- Other European nations entered the race for colonies, leading to conflicts.
20. What were the long-term legacies of Portugal and Spain’s explorations?
Answer:
- Globalization:
- Initiated global trade and cultural exchanges.
- Colonial Empires:
- Established long-lasting colonial rule in various regions.
- Cultural and Economic Impact:
- Transformations in societies worldwide due to European influence.
