All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Which empire established a colony in Brazil?
Answer: The Portuguese Empire. Established sugar plantations using enslaved African labor.
Flashcard 2: What was the main export of the Spanish colonies in the Americas?
Answer: Silver. Massive silver mines in Potosí funded Spanish global empire.
Flashcard 3: Name a technological advancement that improved long-distance trade.
Answer: Astrolabe. Used stars and sun to determine latitude at sea.
Flashcard 4: What was the significance of Vasco da Gama's voyage?
Answer: First sea route to India. Opened direct maritime trade between Europe and Asia.
Flashcard 5: Which empire focused on colonizing North America and the Caribbean?
Answer: The British Empire. Established thirteen colonies and Caribbean sugar islands.
Flashcard 6: What was a major impact of Spanish colonization in the Americas?
Answer: Cultural assimilation. Imposed Spanish language, religion, and customs on natives.
Flashcard 7: Which empire was dominant in the Indian Ocean trade in the 17th century?
Answer: The Dutch Empire. Superior naval technology and trading companies dominated commerce.
Flashcard 8: What was the primary commodity sought by European traders in Asia?
Answer: Spices. High-value, low-weight goods justified long ocean voyages.
Flashcard 9: Identify a major factor that contributed to the decline of maritime empires.
Answer: Colonial revolutions. Independence movements challenged imperial control worldwide.
Flashcard 10: Which maritime empire introduced Christianity to the Philippines?
Answer: The Spanish Empire. Missionaries accompanied conquistadors to convert indigenous peoples.
Flashcard 11: What was a significant effect of the Dutch trading companies?
Answer: Monopolized spice trade. VOC and WIC controlled prices through exclusive trading rights.
Flashcard 12: What was the role of privateering in the establishment of maritime empires?
Answer: State-sponsored piracy. Licensed pirates attacked enemy shipping to weaken rivals.
Flashcard 13: Which empire lost control of its American colonies in the late 18th century?
Answer: The British Empire. American Revolution ended British control of thirteen colonies.
Flashcard 14: What was the outcome of the Battle of Lepanto (1571)?
Answer: Defeat of the Ottoman fleet. Christian coalition halted Ottoman expansion into Mediterranean.
Flashcard 15: Identify the empire that established trading posts in India in the 16th century.
Answer: The Portuguese Empire. First European power to establish permanent Asian trading bases.
Flashcard 16: What was a major reason for the decline of Portuguese maritime power?
Answer: Competition from other European powers. Dutch and British expansion challenged Portuguese monopolies.
Flashcard 17: Which empire is known for establishing the colony of New Amsterdam?
Answer: The Dutch Empire. Founded Manhattan before British conquest renamed it New York.
Flashcard 18: What was a key factor in the success of British maritime expansion?
Answer: Naval supremacy. Royal Navy controlled sea lanes and protected British commerce.
Flashcard 19: What is a maritime empire?
Answer: An empire with territories primarily overseas. Controlled territories across oceans rather than contiguous land masses.
Flashcard 20: Name one example of a maritime empire.
Answer: The British Empire. Controlled territories worldwide including India, America, and Australia.
Flashcard 21: Which technological advancement greatly aided maritime empires?
Answer: The caravel ship. Small, maneuverable ships ideal for ocean exploration and trade.
Flashcard 22: Identify a key reason for the establishment of maritime empires.
Answer: Desire for trade and resources. Access to valuable goods like spices, gold, and silver drove expansion.
Flashcard 23: Which maritime empire controlled the Spice Islands?
Answer: The Dutch Empire. Dominated Southeast Asian spice trade through strategic control.
Flashcard 24: What role did the compass play in maritime exploration?
Answer: It helped navigate the open seas. Enabled accurate direction-finding far from familiar landmarks.
Flashcard 25: Name one consequence of the Columbian Exchange.
Answer: The spread of diseases to the New World. European diseases devastated indigenous populations with no immunity.
Flashcard 26: What was the primary economic policy of maritime empires?
Answer: Mercantilism. Emphasized accumulating wealth through favorable trade balances.
Flashcard 27: Which empire established the East India Company?
Answer: The British Empire. Used trading companies to establish commercial dominance in Asia.
Flashcard 28: What was the primary goal of Portuguese maritime exploration?
Answer: Finding a sea route to Asia. Avoided Ottoman-controlled overland routes to access Asian goods.
Flashcard 29: Which empire took control of the Philippines in the 16th century?
Answer: The Spanish Empire. Strategic position for trade between Asia and the Americas.
Flashcard 30: What was the significance of the Cape of Good Hope?
Answer: It was a key maritime route to Asia. Allowed ships to reach Asia without crossing Ottoman territory.