European Expansion & Colonization

Which of the following statements accurately characterizes the Afro-Eurasian trading world before Columbus?

• China was increasingly isolated and averse to any kind of overseas exploration due to its Confucian values

• The Indian Ocean was a cosmopolitan trading region, connecting East Africa, the Middle East, and Asia

• East Africa’s participation was severely limited by the fact that most people were still hunter-gatherers

• The Ottoman and Safavid Empires were in a state of decline after their many interregional wars

How was Portugal able to establish a “trading post empire” in the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean?

• The Portuguese used skilled diplomatic alliances with other European powers.

• The Portuguese vessels used force and exacted tributes on local economies.

• The Portuguese abandoned Christianizing local people and dedicated its efforts purely to colonizing.

• The Portuguese made use of royal patronage through chartering joint-stock companies.

What allowed the Dutch and British to establish a commercial presence in the Indian Ocean?

• Creation of large joint-stock companies, often given state-sanctioned monopolies over trade

• Mutual emphasis given to missionary activity and maintaining a balance of trade

• Vatican approved a Dutch sphere of influence over the Spice Islands

• Spread of smallpox and introduction of horses facilitated Dutch conquest

Prior to the transoceanic voyages in the early 16th century, which European regions controlled trade with Asia?

• Portugal and Spain dominated for most of the Late Middle Ages

• The British and Dutch controlled most of the trade with Asia due to their superior sailing vessels

• Italian city-states, especially Venice and Genoa, controlled the European luxury trade with the East.

• Due to their advantageous geography, the Ottoman and Safavid Empires controlled most trade within Europe

Which of the following was NOT a cause of European expansion in the period from 1450-1650?

• Desire for a direct route to the spice trade in Southeast Asia

• Religious fervor inspired by the conquest of Moorish Spain by Catholics

• An increased spirit of curiosity and adventure inspired by popular books written by other travelers

• Political alliances among European monarchs afforded greater resources to fund expansion

Which of the following developments facilitated the European voyages of exploration?

• The collapse of the Holy Roman Empire allowed Spain and Portugal to rise to prominence

• Marco Polo’s writings about the Inca and Mexica empires spurred curiosity about the New World

• The adoption of new navigation technologies such as the compass, astrolabe, lateen sail, and stern-post rudder

• The Black Death reduced European population levels to the point that new overseas labor was needed

In chronological order, what were the three successive commercial empires established by Europeans in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries?

• Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch

• Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch

• Portuguese, French, Spanish

• English, Portuguese, Spanish

How do Spanish & Portuguese conquests compare?

• They combined a zeal for spreading Catholicism and both used joint-stock companies

• They combined a zeal for spreading the Catholic faith, but the Spanish established outright colonial rule

• The Spanish approach was less violent and concentrated its influence along the coasts

• The Spanish were more interested in spreading Christianity than in establishing commercial ties

Which of the following was a major impact of the discovery of the rich silver mines of Potosi?

• It made the western coast of South America one of Britain's most valued markets.

• It allowed Europeans to gain access to Asian commodity markets.

• The influx of silver led to extremely low inflation in Europe.

• It caused the Spanish to reconsider their commitment to mercantilism.

This particular ship was the workhorse of Spanish expansion and transported thousands of tons of silver across the oceans.

• caravel

• dhow

• galleon

• portolani