CH 3 Section 1 – Study Guide

Which European country was the leader in developing and applying 15th century sailing innovations? Portugal

Why was the caravel an important development in navigation? Caravel is more sturdy and is able to sail against
the wind

Who captained the first European ship to sail around the tip of Africa, now known as the Cape of Good Hope?
Bartolomeu Dias

What was the easternmost city da Gama reached? Calicut

What were Europeans' main motives for making voyages of exploration? God (spread Christianity), Gold
(money and wealth), & Glory (first to explore new lands)

Why was Zheng He important? He led 7 Chinese overseas exploration

How did Prince Henry of Portugal influence exploration? He founded a Navigational School on the coast of
Portugal to perfect Portugal’s trade with map makers, instrument makers, shipbuilders, scientists, and sea
captains.

What was the purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas signed by Portugal and Spain? To decrease conflict over the
claiming of lands and agree to the imaginary line separating the Atlantic Ocean

What European nation profited most from trade with the East in the years directly following the Crusades? Italy

Which nation did Prince Henry help to take the lead in overseas exploration? Portugal

In the 1400s, what was the most important trade good from the East? Spices

Bartolomeu Dias captained the first European ship to sail what route? Around the Southern tip of Africa

What did Vasco da Gama succeed in gaining for Portugal? Gained a sea route between Portugal and India

The Line of Demarcation established a boundary between which two regions? Portugal and Spain

By the 1700s, which nation's East India Company dominated the Indian Ocean trade? The Netherlands

What inspired Europeans to begin exploring foreign lands in the 1400s? What made it possible for them to begin
these explorations? Gold, Gold,& Glory—the desire of new wealth and land; technology made this possible

How were the Dutch able to dominate the Indian Ocean Trade? The Dutch seized the Port of Malacca and the
valuable Spice Islands from Portugal, making them more powerful and wealthy, thus increasing their control
over the Indian Ocean.

How might the phrase “God, Glory, and Gold” summarize the Europeans motives for exploration? Grow rich,
spread Christianity, and be the first to explore new territory.

How might Columbus have mistaken the Caribbean for the East Indies? He traveled West thinking he had
discovered the trade route, when in fact, he landed in America.

Why did Prince Henry found a navigation school as a means to gain access to the riches of East Asia? The
purpose of the navigation school was to perfect Portugal’s trade initiatives.
Vocabulary
Define
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Caravel a type of two- or three- masted sailing ship developed in the 1400’s by the Portuguese
Compass a device that always points north and used for navigation; invented by Chinese
Astrolabe an instrument that was used to determine the altitude of objects in the sky; created by Muslims
Navigation the skill and science of determining the position of a vessel at sea
Cartographer person who makes maps
Circumnavigate to travel around the entire Earth
Mercantilism the idea that a country’s power depends mainly on its wealth
Imperialism the political, military, or economic domination of one country over another
Sponsor an individual or group that provides support, usually financial
Treaty of Tordesillas Enacted by Pop Alexander VI in 1494 to settle dispute over newly discovered land by
Spain and Portugal
Conquistador Spanish conquerors/explorers
Dutch East India Company most wealthy East India Company who took control over the Indian Ocean
Important People
(Know important Years and Occurrences that made these following people well known)
If you study the above questions, you will know important people and what they’re known for!







Vasco Da Gama
Zheng He
Bartolomeu Dias
Christopher Columbus
Ferdinand Magellan
Pope Alexander VI
Prince Henry