Exploration: Causes and Events - AP World History
- Which empire was known for its advanced maritime technologies during this era?
- The Ming Dynasty (China). Zheng He's voyages demonstrated Chinese naval capabilities.
- Which explorer is known for his voyages to North America for England?
- John Cabot. Explored Newfoundland coast and established English territorial claims.
- What was the primary factor driving the transatlantic slave trade?
- The demand for labor in the Americas. Sugar and tobacco plantations required intensive manual labor.
- What was a primary consequence of the Columbian Exchange?
- Introduction of new crops and animals across continents. Transformed global agriculture and ecosystems dramatically.
- What was the primary impact of the introduction of European firearms in Africa?
- Increased warfare and political instability. Guns disrupted traditional power structures and conflicts.
- What was the main reason for the decline of the Portuguese trading empire?
- Competition from other European powers. Dutch and English challenged Portuguese trade monopolies.
- Identify the European nation that first established a colony in Brazil.
- Portugal. Claimed Brazil through early coastal expeditions and settlements.
- Which economic theory drove European nations to acquire colonies?
- Mercantilism. Emphasized accumulating wealth through favorable trade balances.
- Which navigation tool measures the angle between a celestial object and the horizon?
- The sextant. Precise instrument for celestial navigation and positioning.
- Identify the term for the global transfer of plants, animals, and diseases post-1492.
- The Columbian Exchange. Describes the massive biological exchange after 1492.
- What was the main motivation for European exploration during 1450–1750?
- Desire for new trade routes and wealth. Europeans sought alternatives to expensive overland routes to Asia.
- Which European nation established a trading post empire in the Indian Ocean?
- Portugal. Focused on coastal forts rather than territorial conquest.
- Which explorer is credited with discovering the New World in 1492?
- Christopher Columbus. Initiated sustained contact between Europe and the Americas.
- Name the economic system where colonies existed for the benefit of the mother country.
- Mercantilism. Economic theory prioritizing mother country's wealth accumulation.
- Which technological advancement significantly aided European exploration?
- The astrolabe. Allowed sailors to determine latitude by measuring star positions.
- Identify the Portuguese prince who sponsored early voyages of exploration.
- Prince Henry the Navigator. Established Portugal's maritime exploration school and expeditions.
- What was the primary role of the Dutch East India Company?
- To trade in the Indian Ocean and control spice trade. Joint-stock company monopolizing Asian trade for Netherlands.
- What was the primary commodity sought by Europeans in the East Indies?
- Spices. Valuable seasoning agents worth enormous profits in Europe.
- What was the primary goal of the Spanish missions in the New World?
- To convert indigenous peoples to Christianity. Combined religious conversion with Spanish cultural dominance.
- Which civilization did Francisco Pizarro conquer in South America?
- The Inca Empire. Conquered the Andean empire and claimed Peru for Spain.
- What was the primary cash crop in the southern colonies of North America?
- Tobacco. Highly profitable export crop requiring extensive slave labor.
- What was the primary navigation tool used by European sailors during this period?
- The compass. Magnetic instrument showing direction for ocean navigation.
- What was a major effect of European exploration on indigenous cultures?
- Cultural disruption and population decline. Disease, conquest, and colonization devastated native societies.
- Identify the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean.
- Vasco Núñez de Balboa. Crossed Panama and claimed the Pacific for Spain.
- Which explorer opened the sea route to India by rounding Africa's Cape of Good Hope?
- Vasco da Gama. First European to reach India by sailing around Africa.
- Name the system of trade that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
- Triangular Trade. Exchange system linking three continents economically.
- What was the primary purpose of the encomienda system?
- To regulate Native American labor and behavior. Spanish colonial system granting control over indigenous workers.
- Identify the main purpose of the navigational instrument called a sextant.
- To determine latitude and longitude. Measures angular distance for precise navigation calculations.
- Name the treaty that divided the New World between Spain and Portugal.
- Treaty of Tordesillas. Signed in 1494, it divided territories along a meridian line.
- What was the significant impact of the Age of Exploration on Europe?
- The rise of powerful maritime empires. Created global trade networks and colonial competition.
- Which European power controlled the Philippines for over three centuries?
- Spain. Colonized after Magellan's expedition and maintained until 1898.
- Which empire did Hernán Cortés conquer?
- The Aztec Empire. Conquered Tenochtitlan and claimed Mexico for Spain in 1521.
- Name the first permanent English settlement in North America.
- Jamestown. Established in Virginia in 1607 for tobacco cultivation.
- Name the explorer who claimed Canada for France.
- Jacques Cartier. Explored the St. Lawrence River and established French claims.
- Identify the disease that decimated indigenous populations in the Americas.
- Smallpox. Killed 90% of native populations who lacked immunity.
- Which commodity was central to the economy of the Caribbean colonies?
- Sugar. Profitable crop that drove plantation slavery expansion.