reasons for european exploration

Question 1

Technological improvements

Answer 1

-Renaissance (ended Dark Ages) and led to….
-gunpowder, sailing compass, and more education
-major improvements to all aspects of life
-printing press in the 1450’s (Johann Gutenberg)

Question 2

Religious Conflict

Answer 2

-Islam vs. Christianity
-Catholics (Spain + Portugal) - Reconquista
-Protestant reformation (England + Netherlands)

Question 3

Desire for wealth/power

Answer 3

-New trade routes (slave trade)
-Extraction (gold/Native labor)
-Establishment (missions, colonies)

Question 3

Columbian Exchange

Answer 3

-Exchange of goods, people, and ideas between Europe and New World
-New World to Europe: beans, corn, tomatoes, tobacco
-Europe to New World: Smallpox, horses (mostly brought disease and death)

Question 3

Columbus and the Spanish

Answer 3

-Columbus approaches Spanish Monarchs for funding to explore new trade routes (Spain said yes because they were a new country and had nothing to lose)
-Led to exchanges in goods, ideas, religion, diseases, economy, and nationalism
-took away Natives way of life

Question 4

The Great Dying

Answer 4

the devastation of American Indian populations by diseases brought over from Europe
-90% of people with disease died
-brought by conquistadors to the New World