All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What was the primary role of the Casa de Contratación?
Answer: To regulate Spanish exploration and trade. Spanish colonial administration controlling trade and exploration.
Flashcard 2: Which explorer is credited with discovering the sea route to India?
Answer: Vasco da Gama. Sailed around Africa's Cape of Good Hope to reach Asia.
Flashcard 3: Which invention spread knowledge of navigational techniques in the 15th century?
Answer: The printing press. Spread maps, charts, and navigation manuals widely.
Flashcard 4: Which explorer is credited with discovering the Mississippi River?
Answer: Hernando de Soto. Explored southeastern United States and found major river.
Flashcard 5: What was the main goal of the Spanish encomienda system?
Answer: To control and exploit Indigenous labor and resources. Forced labor system extracting wealth from indigenous peoples.
Flashcard 6: Identify the explorer who claimed Brazil for Portugal in 1500.
Answer: Pedro Álvares Cabral. Accidentally discovered Brazil while sailing to India.
Flashcard 7: Which innovation improved the accuracy of long-distance maritime travel?
Answer: The astrolabe and sextant. Combined instruments provided precise celestial navigation capabilities.
Flashcard 8: What advancement allowed for the creation of more detailed maps in the 15th century?
Answer: Improved cartography techniques. Precise measurements and printing press enabled better maps.
Flashcard 9: What was the primary function of the lead line in maritime navigation?
Answer: To measure water depth. Weighted rope measured water depth for safe navigation.
Flashcard 10: Identify the major technological innovation that improved shipbuilding in the 15th century.
Answer: The caravel design. Combined square and triangular sails for oceanic voyages.
Flashcard 11: What was the significance of the Spanish Armada in relation to exploration?
Answer: Its defeat marked the decline of Spanish naval power. Shifted naval dominance from Spain to England.
Flashcard 12: Which country emerged as a leading sea power during the Age of Exploration?
Answer: Spain. Controlled vast American territories and Pacific trade.
Flashcard 13: What was the main function of the quadrant in navigation?
Answer: To measure the altitude of celestial bodies. Calculated latitude by measuring angles of stars.
Flashcard 14: Which technological advance allowed for the accurate measurement of time at sea?
Answer: The marine chronometer. Enabled precise longitude determination for ocean navigation.
Flashcard 15: What was the significance of the Line of Demarcation in the 15th century?
Answer: It divided the non-European world between Spain and Portugal. Created boundary splitting global territories between two powers.
Flashcard 16: Name the Portuguese prince who sponsored early explorations along the African coast.
Answer: Prince Henry the Navigator. Established navigation school and funded exploration expeditions.
Flashcard 17: Which explorer is known for his voyage to the Caribbean islands?
Answer: Christopher Columbus. Made four voyages to Caribbean between 1492-1504.
Flashcard 18: What impact did the Columbian Exchange have on Europe?
Answer: It introduced new crops and goods to Europe. Brought potatoes, tomatoes, sugar, and other products.
Flashcard 19: Which invention allowed sailors to more accurately plot longitude?
Answer: The marine chronometer. Precise timekeeping enabled accurate longitude calculations at sea.
Flashcard 20: What was the main economic theory driving European exploration and colonization?
Answer: Mercantilism. Emphasized accumulating wealth through favorable trade balances.
Flashcard 21: Which invention spread knowledge of navigational techniques in the 15th century?
Answer: The printing press. Spread maps, charts, and navigation manuals widely.
Flashcard 22: What was the primary role of the Casa de Contratación?
Answer: To regulate Spanish exploration and trade. Spanish colonial administration controlling trade and exploration.
Flashcard 23: Identify the explorer who discovered the New World in 1492.
Answer: Christopher Columbus. Reached Caribbean islands while seeking westward route to Asia.
Flashcard 24: What technological advancement allowed for the construction of larger ships?
Answer: The development of the sternpost rudder. Improved steering control enabled larger vessel construction.
Flashcard 25: Which European nation first established trade routes to the Spice Islands?
Answer: Portugal. Portuguese explorers reached Indonesia's valuable spice markets.
Flashcard 26: What was the primary purpose of the astrolabe in navigation?
Answer: To determine latitude by measuring celestial angles. Used star positions to calculate precise location coordinates.
Flashcard 27: Which invention allowed sailors to determine their direction at sea?
Answer: The magnetic compass. Pointed to magnetic north, providing reliable directional reference.
Flashcard 28: Identify the ship design that improved long-distance voyages in the 15th century.
Answer: The caravel. Featured triangular sails and shallow draft for ocean voyages.
Flashcard 29: What was the purpose of the lateen sail in navigation?
Answer: Allowed ships to sail against the wind. Triangular sail design enabled sailing closer to wind direction.
Flashcard 30: Which technological advance enabled more accurate maps during the Age of Exploration?
Answer: The use of the printing press. Enabled mass reproduction of accurate geographical knowledge.