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Identify Cause and Effect What were the major causes of European exploration

11 answers

The major causes of European exploration during the Age of Discovery (roughly the 15th to 17th centuries) can be categorized into several key factors:

1. Economic Motives

Cause: The desire for new trade routes and access to valuable resources.

  • Effect: European nations sought new paths to Asia to access spices, silk, and other luxury goods. This led to maritime exploration to find alternate routes to India and the Spice Islands.

2. Technological Advances

Cause: Innovations in navigation and shipbuilding.

  • Effect: The development of the compass, astrolabe, and more seaworthy ships (like the caravel) allowed for longer voyages and improved navigation, facilitating exploration into previously uncharted oceans.

3. Political Competition

Cause: Rivalries among European nations for power and territory.

  • Effect: Countries like Spain, Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands competed to establish colonies and expand their empires, leading to an increase in exploratory missions.

4. Religious Motivations

Cause: The desire to spread Christianity and counter Muslim expansion.

  • Effect: Many explorers, particularly from Spain and Portugal, were motivated by the goal of converting indigenous populations to Christianity, which often accompanied colonial ventures.

5. Curiosity and Humanism

Cause: An increased interest in the world and human experience during the Renaissance.

  • Effect: A spirit of inquiry and a desire to discover unknown lands and peoples motivated explorers to undertake their voyages, driven by the belief that knowledge and understanding could improve society.

6. Social Motivations

Cause: Overpopulation and social unrest in Europe.

  • Effect: Some Europeans sought new opportunities in unexplored territories, leading to the migration of people seeking land, wealth, and a better life.

7. Scientific Exploration

Cause: Advances in scientific knowledge and interest in natural history.

  • Effect: Scientific curiosity led to expeditions aimed at discovering new plants, animals, and geological features, contributing to a broader understanding of the world.

These causes together created a complex web of motivations that spurred European nations to embark on extensive exploration, significantly impacting global history.

2 sentences

The major causes of European exploration included economic motives driven by the desire for new trade routes and valuable resources, as well as technological advances in navigation and shipbuilding that made long voyages feasible. Additionally, political competition among European nations, religious motivations to spread Christianity, and a renewed curiosity during the Renaissance all fueled the urge to explore unknown lands.

2 sentences
Explain Why were the Spanish rulers pleased with the Treaty of Tordesillas and its Line of Demarcation?

The Spanish rulers were pleased with the Treaty of Tordesillas and its Line of Demarcation because it granted them exclusive rights to explore and colonize vast territories in the Americas, effectively reducing competition from Portugal in those regions. This agreement legitimized Spain's claims to newly discovered lands, leading to increased wealth and influence for the Spanish crown.

2 sentences
Infer What was the significance of Balboa’s discovery? (p.131)

Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean in 1513 was significant because it opened up new opportunities for exploration and trade, demonstrating that there were vast bodies of water and territories beyond the Americas. This discovery also shifted European perspectives on global geography and paved the way for subsequent expeditions, including those seeking a northwest passage to Asia.

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Infer How did the Portuguese use geographic factors to help them control the spice trade? (p.133)

The Portuguese utilized geographic factors by establishing strategic coastal trading posts and fortified locations along key maritime routes in the Indian Ocean, allowing them to monitor and control the movement of spice-laden ships. By leveraging their naval technology and expertise in navigation, they effectively dominated key chokepoints and established a monopoly over the lucrative spice trade.

make it sound more simple

The Portuguese used geographic factors by setting up trading posts along important sea routes in the Indian Ocean, which helped them keep an eye on ships carrying spices. This allowed them to control the spice trade and make a lot of money from it.