Unit 2 Study Guide: Early Exploration

Answer 1

1. Who were the major European powers involved in early exploration?
- The major European powers involved in early exploration were Portugal, Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands.

2. What were the motivations for European exploration?
- The motivations for European exploration included the desire to find new trade routes to Asia, to spread Christianity, to establish colonies, to acquire wealth and resources, and to gain power and prestige.

3. What were some of the major technological advancements that enabled exploration?
- Some major technological advancements that enabled exploration included the development of more advanced navigational tools like the compass and astrolabe, the invention of the printing press which allowed for the mass production of maps and navigation charts, and the development of more advanced ship designs such as the caravel.

4. What were some of the major exploratory voyages of the 15th and 16th centuries?
- Some major exploratory voyages of the 15th and 16th centuries include Christopher Columbus' voyages to the Americas, Vasco da Gama's voyage around Africa to India, Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe, and Francis Drake's voyages to the West Indies and around the world.

5. What were the major effects of European exploration?
- The major effects of European exploration included the establishment of global trade networks, the colonization of new territories, the spread of Christianity, the displacement and mistreatment of indigenous populations, the exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between Europe, Africa, and the Americas (known as the Columbian Exchange), and the beginning of the era of European dominance and imperialism.

6. Who was the first European to reach India by sea?
- Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach India by sea in 1498.

7. What were the major accomplishments of Christopher Columbus?
- The major accomplishments of Christopher Columbus include his voyages to the Americas, which opened up the New World to European exploration and colonization, and his discovery of the trade winds and current patterns in the Atlantic Ocean, which greatly facilitated future voyages.

8. What was the goal of the Treaty of Tordesillas?
- The goal of the Treaty of Tordesillas was to divide the newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal. The line of demarcation established by the treaty gave Spain control over most of the Americas, while Portugal gained control over Africa and Asia.

9. What was the significance of the Northwest Passage?
- The Northwest Passage was a sought-after route to Asia through the Arctic Ocean. European explorers believed that finding this passage would provide a quicker and easier route to Asia, but it was never successfully discovered and proved to be elusive.

10. Who was Henry Hudson and what was his contribution to exploration?
- Henry Hudson was an English explorer who sailed on behalf of the Netherlands. He made several voyages in search of the Northwest Passage and explored areas such as the Hudson River, Hudson Bay, and the Arctic. His voyages helped to expand European knowledge of North America and established a Dutch presence in the New World.