The Age of Exploration - Key Terms

Question 1

Quadrant, astrolabe

Answer 1

Instruments that determined a ships latitude based on the position of the sun and the stars.

Question 2

Compass

Answer 2

Instrument that determined a ships direction by identifying North.

Question 3

Log and line

Answer 3

Instrument used to measure a ships speed (unit = knots) based on the number of knots on a rope released at regular intervals.

Question 4

Caravel

Answer 4

Strong ships that was sturdy enough to last long voyages in strong winds.

Question 5

Conquistadores

Answer 5

Spanish for “conquerers”. Soldiers who conquered the native people of South America.

Question 6

Colonisation

Answer 6

When one country takes over another territory, then settles some people there to control the it.

Question 7

Slavery triangle

Answer 7

A trading triangle. Slaves from Africa were transported to the Americas, American goods to Europe and the and the process would repeat.

Question 8

Colombian exchange

Answer 8

Introduction of European goods and animals to South America and American goods and animals to Europe.

Question 9

Cartographers

Answer 9

People who drew maps

Question 10

Portolan charts

Answer 10

Mapped harbours and coastlines

Question 11

Logbook

Answer 11

Used to record speed

Question 12

Tacking

Answer 12

Turning into the wind to move.

Question 13

Clinker building

Answer 13

Fitted edge to edge then overlapped to reinforce the ships hull.

Question 14

Rudders

Answer 14

Made it easier to steer a caravel

Question 15

Naos

Answer 15

Larger versions of a caravel, commonly used for voyages across the Atlantic,

Question 16

Lateen sails

Answer 16

Triangular sails added to the ships to help steer through wind

Question 17

Spices

Answer 17

Came from Asia - one of the main reasons for the exploration era

Question 18

Fortune

Answer 18

Money and other riches

Question 19

Fame

Answer 19

Known by patrons and king/queens

Question 20

Scurvy

Answer 20

Deficiency disease caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet.

Question 21

Shipwreck

Answer 21

When ships got embedded in sand or rocks

Question 22

Mutiny

Answer 22

When sailors rebelled against the captains.

Question 23

Execution

Answer 23

Being killed as a punishment

Question 24

The Great Silk Road

Answer 24

A trade route to China

Question 25

Henry the Navigatior

Answer 25

Set up the school of navigation in Sagres.

Question 26

Bartolomeu Dias

Answer 26

Sailed to the Cape of Good Hope along the coast of Africa in 1487

Question 27

Vasco de Gama

Answer 27

Sailed to Calicut in India around the coast of Africa in 1497

Question 28

Christopher Columbus

Answer 28

Discovered America in 1492, although he thought he was in Asia so he referred to the natives as Indians.

Question 29

Ferdinand Magellen

Answer 29

Proved that the world was round in 1522

Question 30

Circumnavigation

Answer 30

Sailing around the globe

Question 31

Hernán Cortés

Answer 31

Conquered the Aztecs

Question 32

The Aztecs

Answer 32

A tribe in central Mexico who owned an empire

Question 33

Tenochtitlan

Answer 33

Capital of the Aztec's Empire

Question 34

Montezuma II

Answer 34

Aztec King who was tricked by Cortés, killed during the conquest

Question 35

New Spain

Answer 35

Built on the remains of Tenochtitlan

Question 36

Francisco Pizarro

Answer 36

Conquered the Incas

Question 37

Incas

Answer 37

Tribe in Peru before the age of exploration

Question 38

Colony

Answer 38

One country that is controlled by another

Question 39

Disease

Answer 39

Diseases such as smallpox, measles and influenze killed most natives in colonised countries.

Question 40

Brazil

Answer 40

Portugal colonised Brazil; this is why they still speak Potugese in Brazil.

Question 41

British Empire

Answer 41

They colonised east North America, India, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Africa.

Question 42

French Empire

Answer 42

They colonised parts of North America, parts of Africa and Asia

Question 43

Treaty of Tordesillas

Answer 43

Signed in 1494; divided the New World among the colonies

Question 44

New World

Answer 44

South America