Topic 2

The control of most trade between Asia and Europe in the 1400s by Arab and Italian merchants caused

• disruption in trade of luxury goods brought overland to Europe.

• Europeans outside Italy to search for direct access to Asia.

• Renaissance curiosity to spark a major religious revival in Europe.

• Europeans outside Italy to seek direct access to North Africa.

Why did the Portuguese think that they could find an easier way to reach Asia?

• They had alliances with European nations to send out expeditions.

• They had a large country and a long tradition of Asian exploration.

• They had a large fleet and had defeated Spain in recent sea battles.

• They had expert knowledge and advanced navigational technology.

Why did Columbus reach the Caribbean islands rather than the East Indies?

• He did not know that he had sailed far off course.

• He greatly underestimated the size of Earth.

• He was unaware that Earth was a sphere.

• He ran out of food and water and landed too soon.

How did the Portuguese establish footholds and trade on Africa's coasts?

• They explored inland and then established many permanent settlements around the Indian Ocean.

• They fought sea battles with the Spanish to control access to the East African trade routes.

• They established forts and trading posts on the coast and seized key ports around the Indian Ocean.

• They formed commercial alliances with the Arabs who dominated the East African trade network.

How did Balboa's search for a direct route to Asia differ from Magellan's voyage?

• Balboa reached the Caribbean; Magellan first saw the Pacific.

• Balboa found Cuba; Magellan sought a "northwest passage."

• Balboa crossed Panama; Magellan sailed around the world.

• Balboa found the Spice Islands; Magellan was shipwrecked.

What strategy did the Portuguese use most successfully in building a trading empire in South and Southeast Asia?

• alliances with other European countries

• military force against some Asian peoples; diplomatic relations with others

• invasions deep into Asian lands; then divide and conquer

• an alliance with China to drive out rival Europeans

Which statement summarizes advantages that Dutch East India Company traders had over Portuguese and Spanish traders?

• The company had helpful agreements with English merchants.

• The company was not permitted to raise armies or sign treaties.

• The company was closely supervised by the Dutch government.

• The company could wage war and govern overseas territories.

Why did the Mughal emperor recognize the right of the British East India Company to collect taxes in northeastern India?

• The emperor decided that only the British could effectively collect these taxes.

• The French and Dutch East Companies made the weak emperor grant this right.

• The British East India Company forced the weak emperor to accept this right.

• The emperor was secretly plotting with the Dutch to attack the British.

Why did Matteo Ricci make such a strong impression on the Chinese?

• He did not attempt to convert them to Christianity.

• He was a Renaissance scholar with very limited interest in China.

• He did not share information about China with curious Europeans.

• He offered them knowledge about Renaissance Europe.

Spain's seizing control of the Philippines in the 1600s caused the Tokugawa shoguns to

• persecute Japanese Christians and ban European traders.

• encourage diplomatic and trade activities with the Dutch.

• limit Buddhist practices and celebration of seasonal festivals.

• dispatch an ambassador to Rome to learn about Christianity.