Glossary
Amerigo Vespucci
An Italian explorer and cartographer for whom the Americas are named, recognizing them as a 'New World' rather than part of Asia.
Example:
It was Amerigo Vespucci's detailed accounts and recognition of the new continents that led to the naming of the 'Americas' in his honor.
Cartography
The science and art of drawing maps, which became increasingly accurate during the Age of Exploration.
Example:
Advances in cartography enabled explorers to create detailed charts of newly discovered lands, making future voyages safer and more efficient.
Ceuta
A North African city captured by Portugal in 1415, marking an early step in their overseas expansion and control of trade routes.
Example:
The capture of Ceuta provided Portugal with a strategic foothold and access to African trade networks, inspiring further exploration.
Christopher Columbus
An Italian explorer, sponsored by Spain, who landed in the Americas in 1492, mistakenly believing he had reached Asia.
Example:
Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Caribbean initiated the widespread European colonization of the Americas and the Columbian Exchange.
Colonies
Overseas territories controlled by a mother country, primarily for economic exploitation and strategic advantage under mercantilist principles.
Example:
European powers established colonies in the Americas and Asia to secure raw materials and create exclusive markets for their manufactured goods.
Compass
A navigational instrument that shows direction relative to the geographic cardinal directions, crucial for open-sea voyages.
Example:
Early European explorers relied heavily on the compass to maintain their course across vast, uncharted oceans.
Discovery of the Americas
The arrival of Europeans in the Western Hemisphere, initiating a period of profound global exchange, colonization, and exploitation.
Example:
The Discovery of the Americas by Columbus fundamentally reshaped global trade routes and led to the establishment of vast colonial empires.
Enlightenment Perspective
The view held by some Enlightenment philosophers who saw the discovery of the Americas as a monumental event, comparable to the printing press, for its historical significance.
Example:
From an Enlightenment Perspective, the 'New World' offered a unique opportunity for philosophical reflection on human nature and societal development.
Favorable Balance of Trade
A key goal of mercantilism, achieved when a country exports more goods and services than it imports, leading to an accumulation of wealth.
Example:
A nation aimed for a favorable balance of trade by selling its manufactured goods abroad while limiting imports of foreign products to retain gold and silver.
Ferdinand Magellan
A Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, though he died during the voyage in the Philippines.
Example:
Ferdinand Magellan's expedition provided definitive proof of the Earth's spherical shape and the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.
Guns & Gunpowder
Military technologies that provided Europeans with a significant advantage in conquest and defense against indigenous populations.
Example:
The superior firepower of European guns & gunpowder often overwhelmed local resistance, facilitating rapid colonial expansion.
Intellectual Curiosity
A driving force, fostered by the Renaissance, that encouraged a spirit of inquiry and a desire to explore the unknown world.
Example:
The Renaissance's emphasis on human potential and knowledge fueled an intellectual curiosity that pushed explorers to venture beyond known horizons.
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
The finance minister under King Louis XIV of France, a prominent proponent and implementer of mercantilist policies.
Example:
Jean-Baptiste Colbert strengthened the French economy by promoting domestic industries and regulating trade to achieve a favorable balance of trade.
Mercantilism
An economic theory prevalent in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries, emphasizing state control of trade to maximize wealth and power.
Example:
Under mercantilism, European nations sought to establish colonies to provide raw materials and serve as captive markets for manufactured goods.
Prince Henry the Navigator
A Portuguese royal who sponsored voyages of exploration down the African coast, significantly advancing maritime knowledge and technology.
Example:
Prince Henry the Navigator's patronage was instrumental in Portugal's early lead in overseas exploration and the establishment of trade routes.
Self-Sufficiency
A mercantilist goal where a nation aims to produce all necessary goods and raw materials domestically or within its colonies to avoid reliance on others.
Example:
To achieve self-sufficiency, European powers invested heavily in colonial plantations to secure resources like sugar, tobacco, and cotton.
Spread of Christianity
A major motivation for European exploration, involving missionary efforts to convert indigenous populations to Roman Catholicism.
Example:
The Spread of Christianity was often used to justify the conquest, subjugation, and cultural assimilation of indigenous peoples in the Americas.
Sternpost Rudder
A steering device located at the stern of a ship, significantly improving its maneuverability and control.
Example:
The adoption of the sternpost rudder allowed European ships to navigate more precisely, even in challenging coastal waters and strong currents.
Vasco da Gama
A Portuguese explorer who successfully sailed around Africa to India, establishing a direct sea route to Asia and its lucrative spice markets.
Example:
Vasco da Gama's groundbreaking voyage proved that a profitable sea route to the spice markets of Asia was feasible, bypassing overland routes.