Age of exploration Flashcards
Region:
A region is an area of land that has similar characteristics that make it different from other areas.
Climate
The weather of an area over an extended period of time of a year or more.
Astrolabe
An instrument that ancient mariners (sailors) used to determine the latitude measurement of their location.This made it easier to know where they were and what direction they were going in.
Quadrant
An instrument that was invented by Muslim sailors that allowed mariners to determine the longitude of their location.
Compass
The compass allowed sailors to know where north,south,east and west directions are.
Age of exploration
The period of time in the 1400s and 1500s that Europeans began to explore the rest of the world
Christopher Columbus
In 1492 Columbus sailed from the west from Spain,searching for a new way to get to India. He landed in the Caribbean islands. At first he thought he had landed in Asia.
Amerigo Vespucci
In 1502 amerigo Vespucci sailed along South America’s coast. He determined that South American was a separate continent and not part of Asia. Map makers soon started calling it “America”after his name
Vasco Numez de balboa
In 1513 he led and expedition westward across Central America until he came to visit a vast body of water. He discovered the Pacific Ocean.
Ferdinand Megellan
In 1520 Magellan was a Portuguese sailor for Spain. He led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe (sail around the world). He did not live to complete the voyage
Hernán Cortés
In 1519 he landed on the east coast of Mexico. Cortes marched inland with his men and in less than two years he conquered the Aztec empire. He also took huge amounts of gold from the Aztec people and sent it to Spain.
Francisco Pizarro
12 years after Cortes defeated e Aztec Empire,Pizarro led an army into the Inca capital in Peru. He arrested and executed the Inca leader. This allowed him to conquer the Inca empire. He also took huge amounts of gold from the Inca people and sent it to Spain
