Imagine you are an explorer in the 15th century embarking on a journey to discover new lands beyond the known world. What motivates you to undertake this risky and uncertain voyage? Consider the potential rewards, challenges, and the impact on your home country.

From the 1400s to the 1700s, Europe experienced an “Age of Exploration” 

As a result of exploration, European nations grew powerful & spread their influence throughout the world

  • A desire for new sources of wealth was the main reason for European exploration 

  • Merchants began looking for quick, direct trade routes to Asia to avoid Muslim & Italian merchants & increase profits

  • The Crusades & Renaissance stimulated European desires for exotic Asian luxury goods

The Crusades and Renaissance stimulated European desires for exotic Asian luxury goods.

a) True   b) False

A desire for new sources of wealth was the main reason for European exploration.

a) True    b) False

  • Kings who sponsored voyages of exploration gained overseas colonies, new sources of wealth for their nation, & increased power

Exploration presented Europeans the opportunity to rise from poverty and gain fame, fortune, & status

  • European Christians, especially Catholics, wanted to stop the spread of Islam & convert non-Christians to the faith 

  • Explorers were encouraged to spread Christianity or bring missionaries who would focus only on conversions

What opportunity did exploration present to Europeans? 

a) Economic stability

b) Political unity

c) Rise from poverty, gain fame, fortune, and status

d) Military superiority

What was a significant religious motivation for European Christians, especially Catholics, during exploration? 

a) Spread of Buddhism

b) Expansion of Judaism

c) Stop the spread of Islam and convert non-Christians to the faith

d) Promotion of Hinduism

Trade & cultural diffusion during the Renaissance introduced new navigation techniques to Europeans 

  • Magnetic compass made sailing more accurate

  • Maps were more accurate and used longitude & latitude

  • Astrolabe used stars to show direction

  • European shipbuilders built a better ship; The caravel was a strong ship that could travel in the open seas & in shallow water

  • Caravels had triangular lateen sails that allowed ships to sail  against the wind 

  • A moveable rudder made the caravel more maneuverable 

Cannons & rifles gave ships protection

 In the 1400s, shipbuilders designed a new vessel, the caravel. The caravel was sturdier than earlier vessels

Which navigation tool introduced during the Renaissance made sailing more accurate by indicating direction?

a) Magnetic compass

b) Astrolabe

c) Maps with longitude and latitude

d) Telescope

Which feature of the caravel allowed ships to sail against the wind, enhancing their navigational capabilities? 

a) Triangular lateen sails

b) Moveable rudder

c) Cannons

d) Rifles

  • Europeans were not the first to explore the oceans in search of new trade routes 

  • Islamic merchants explored the Indian Ocean & had dominated the Asian spice trade for centuries before European exploration 

from 1405 to 1433, Zheng He led the Chinese treasure fleet on 7 expeditions to SE Asia, India, & Africa during the Ming Dynasty

____________ merchants were the first to explore the Indian Ocean. (Islamic, Egyptian, Greek)

What technological advancement provided ships with protection during sea voyages? 

a) Triangular lateen sails

b) Moveable rudder

c) Cannons

d) Magnetic compass