History of Science 16

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What was the Age of Exploration?

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A period from the 1400s to 1600s characterized by global exchange of people, plants, animals, diseases, and ideas.

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Why did Europeans explore during the Age of Exploration?

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European states lacked resources and technology, but acquired the compass and gunpowder from China, leading to competition for land and trade routes.

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Who took the lead in exploration during the Age of Exploration?

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Portugal and Spain, with Vasco da Gama reaching India in 1497.

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What is the Columbian Exchange?

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The movement of goods, diseases, and knowledge between Europe, Africa, and the Americas after 1492.

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What were some American crops that transformed Eurasian diets?

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Potatoes, corn, tomatoes, and cacao.

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How did European livestock affect agriculture in the Americas?

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European livestock such as cows and horses changed agricultural practices in the Americas.

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What impact did diseases like smallpox have on indigenous populations?

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Diseases like smallpox devastated indigenous populations, reducing them by up to 75%.

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What areas gained importance for colonial expansion during the Age of Exploration?

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Geography, navigation, and botany.

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What role did Spain and Portugal play in mapping and scientific expeditions?

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They funded mapping projects and scientific expeditions.

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What emerged as cultural novelties during the Age of Exploration?

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Museums and cabinets of curiosity organized new knowledge.