AP World History
Study Guide
Name__________________________________ Per ______ Date __________________
15 Study Guide- Maritime Revolution, to 1550
Using complete sentences, answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. You
must use the question as the stem of your answer. Page numbers are provided.
1. What evidence is there that the islands of the eastern Pacific was the result of planned
expansion by Polynesian mariners? P. 378
2. Who was the island of Madagascar settled by? P.379
3. Why was it less difficult to sail the Indian Ocean than other places? P. 379
4. What effect did the rise of Medieval Islam have on trade in the Indian Ocean and
WHY/HOW? P.379
5. What Chinese dynasty launched expeditions in the Indian Ocean between 1405 and 1433
to inspire awe about Chinese power and achievements? P. 380
6. What were at least 2 results of Zheng He’s expeditions (what effect did they have on
trade w/ Africa, India, etc)? p.381
7. What was carried on Zheng He’s ships? P.381
8. Why did Zheng He’s voyages come to a stop? P.381
9. Who were the greatest mariners of the Atlantic in the early Middle Ages? P.381
10. What areas did the Amerindian voyagers colonize? P.381
11. The sea voyages of what 2 Iberian kingdoms began a maritime revolution? P.382
12. What (4) motives did Iberian rulers have for expanding their influence and conquering
new lands? P.382
13. What were 2 reasons that Italian states did not take the lead in exploring the Atlantic?
P.383
14. Along with Christian militancy, what other motives did Iberian (Portugal and Spain)
rulers have for overseas venture? P.383
15. In pushing inland into Africa, what were the Portuguese trying to gain access to? p.383
16. The new navigational technologies of the magnetic compass and the astrolabe were of
what origin? P.384
17. What were 4 advantages/features of the caravel that made it “the best ship that sailed the
seas”? p.384
18. What was the first financial return from the Portuguese voyages? P.384
19. Who was the first Portuguese explorer to reach the southern tip of Africa and view the
Indian Ocean? P.386
20. What was Columbus trying to find when he set sail in 1492? P.388
21. What significance did the independent city of Malacca have? P.392
22. What were some effects of Portuguese domination of the Indian Ocean trade? P.393
23. In contrast to the Portuguese trading empire, what kind of empire did the Spanish
establish? P.393
24. What helped the Spanish in conquering the Aztecs? P.395
25. Who defeated the Inca and how many men did he require? P.398
Free Response Focus Questions: Answer these questions in a 5-7 sentence paragraph.
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In your own words. Do not simply copy from the book and memorize the response.
Support your response with plenty of facts.
Understand where events fall historically (global context, cause/effect, etc)
1. It has often been said that the European explorations can be explained by the following
phrase: “For God, glory, and gold”. Explain each motivation.
2. Describe the interactions of Portuguese and West African peoples from initial contact by
explorers to permanent settlements established by Portuguese traders. In what ways were
the interactions between East Africans and the Portuguese similar or different?
3. What was the impact of the Spanish in the Americas, as compared with the Portuguese in
Africa and the East? What enabled the Spanish to conquer such enormous territory with
so few men?