Chapter 8: The Age of Exploration and the Commercial Revolution

Question 1

Factors that Lead to European Expansion: Renaissance Individualism

Answer 1

A renewed feeling of individualism took over this time. The interest in classical works also lead to greater knowledge in math, astronomy, and geography.

Question 2

Factors that Lead to European Expansion: Search for Spice

Answer 2

Asian spices were all the rage for Europeans these days, as the Crusades started a spike in the demand for Asian spices. Europeans wanted overseas empires and trade stations that would lead to direct access to these lucrative Asian markets.

Question 3

Factors that Lead to European Expansion: Cash Crops

Answer 3

Sugar was a major cash crop at the time, though European soil was unsuitable. Instead, Europeans sought a nice place to start sugar plantations.

Question 4

Factors that Lead to European Expansion: Christianity

Answer 4

Europeans felt they had a duty to God to spread Christianity.

Question 5

Factors that Lead to European Expansion: New Maritime Technology

Answer 5

The new square sails and magnetic compass made it much easier for mariners to determine their location and traverse the seas.

Question 6

Henry the Navigator

Answer 6

A Portuguese navigator that traveled along the West Coast of Africa. By the time of his death, he set up multiple successful trading posts along Africa for gold and slaves.

Question 7

Bartholomew Diaz

Answer 7

Portuguese navigator that rounded the Cape of Good Hope.

Question 8

Vasco da Gama

Answer 8

Portuguese. Went to India and returned with a ton of spices worth far more than the expedition itself.

Question 9

Portuguese Trading Posts

Answer 9

The Portuguese did not try to conquer any territory, but rather establish trading posts. The most important posts were Moa, Malacca, and Macao.

Question 10

Consequences of Portuguese Expansion

Answer 10

The Portuguese ended the Venetian and Muslim monopoly trade with Asia, which shifted the center of commerce to the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 11

Christopher Columbus

Answer 11

Discovered the New World (Caribbean Islands) in 1492. Columbus’s voyages was the step to propel Spain into the leading force in the European expansion.

Question 12

Hernando Cortez

Answer 12

Conquered the Aztecs.

Question 13

Francisco Pizarro

Answer 13

Conquered the Incas.

Question 14

Spanish in America

Answer 14

By the 16th century, Spain had a huge American empire. The Spaniards spread Christianity to the indigenous peoples, and the King governed his overseas empire through councils and viceroys.

Question 15

The Age of Exploration, Columbian Exchange

Answer 15

The time of Europeans traveling to overseas places and creating empires and trading posts. Promoted the spread of agricultural products, gold, animals, spices, populations, and diseases.

Question 16

Products from New World to Old World

Answer 16

Agricultural: Potatoes, maize, tobacco, chocolate
Animals: Turkey
Diseases: Syphilis

Question 17

Products form Old World to New World

Answer 17

Agricultural: Sugar, Coffee, Rice
Animals: Cows, horses, sheeps, goats, chickens
Doseases: Small pox, measles
People: Slaves and European colonists

Question 18

Consequences of the Columbian Exchange: New World

Answer 18

1. Diseases obliterated indigenous populations.

2. Horse transformed the Plains Indians.

Question 19

Consequences of the Columbian Exchange: Europe

Answer 19

1. Changed the European diet, which the newer, richer diet helped feed a growing population.
2. The influx of wealth and silver to Spain contributed to the inflation.
3. Power of Western Europe increased.

Question 20

Consequences of the Columbian Exchange: Africa

Answer 20

Promoted the triangular system, and many Africans were sent overseas to be slaves.

Question 21

Causes of the Commercial Revolution

Answer 21

1. Wealth of Europeans
2. Increased investments
3. New foods, which caused a growing population, and thus a growing demand for products.
4. Price Revolution
5. Nation-centered economic system replacing the guild system.

Question 22

Price Revolution

Answer 22

The period of European economy noted by the high inflation due to Spanish influx of wealth and silver.

Question 23

New Entrepreneurs in the Commercial Revolution

Answer 23

With the growing population and commercial activity, came an emergence of new markets and economic leadership. Since guilds were becoming obsolete, merchants and bankers came to take the lead role in European society – The Italian Medici and German Fuggers.

Question 24

New Industries in the Commercial Revolution

Answer 24

1. Shipbuilding due to new trade routes
2. Books due to the printing press
3. Cannons and muskets with the emergence of nationstate.

Question 25

Putting Out System

Answer 25

In which merchant employers “put out” resources to the rural in-home workers, such as cloth, looms, and other common equipment. Lead to the increase in the production of cloth and other manufactured goods.

Question 26

Joint stock companies

Answer 26

English and Dutch formed these to maximize profits and limit risks.

Question 27

Mercantilism

Answer 27

The theory that nations should export raw materials and import finished goods. This would create strong-self-sufficient economies and growing national reserves of gold and silver.

Question 28

Capitalism

Answer 28

The economic system in which people invest capital, or wealth, to produce even more capital. Depends on private ownership and the desire to earn more profits.

Question 29

Rise of the Bourgeoisie

Answer 29

With the Commercial Revolution, the class of entrepreneurs grew in wealth and size. The middle class began to be known as the bourgeoisie.