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Social Studies Study Guide: The Age of Exploration
Vocabulary
profit technology –
slavery –
astrolabe –
compass settlement expedition –
epidemic –
merchantcaravan –
navigation –
The money left over after all expenses have been paid
The use of scientific knowledge and tools to do things better and quicker
A cruel system where people are bought and sold and forced to work without pay
A tool that measures the height of the sun or a star above the horizon
A tool used to find direction. Its magnetic needle always points north.
A small community of people living in a new place
A journey to achieve a goal
An outbreak of disease that spreads quickly
Someone who buys and sells goods
A group of people and animals that travel together
The science of planning and controlling the direction of a ship
Important figures from the Age of Exploration
Columbus Sailed west across the Atlantic trying to reach Asia, and landed in the Bahamas
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella - Helped finance voyages for Columbus
Ponce de Leon Led an expedition to Florida and claimed this land for Spain. Was also known
because he searched for the legendary “fountain of youth”.
Vasco Balboa Spanish explorer who crossed the mountains and jungles of Panama. He was
the first explorer to reach the Pacific Ocean.
John Cabot Italian explorer who was trying to reach Asia by sailing across the Atlantic. He
landed in Canada and thought it was Asia. He discovered plentiful fishing areas
but no people, spices, or silk. Later explorers set up fishing companies in this
area.
Henry Hudson Discovered Hudson Bay and thought it might lead to the Pacific Ocean. He
stayed too long exploring, the weather turned cold, and his ship was trapped in
ice for the entire winter. His crew got mad and set him adrift in a small boat.
Jacques Cartier - A French explorer who was looking for a water route to Asia. He explored and
sailed over 1,000 miles along the St. Lawrence River in Canada.
Concepts
 The Silk Road - Trading route between Europe and China
 The Columbian Exchange – The movement of plants, animals, and people between the
Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
 The early explorers were interested in trading for spices.
 Many natives of newly discovered lands were killed or enslaved by the explorers. Others died
from diseases brought to the new lands by European explorers
 Exploration and trade helped spread new ideas throughout the world (main idea of Chapter 3)
 Early explorers were searching for a water route to Asia.
 The early explorers thought there might be a waterway through North America that would lead
to the Pacific Ocean. They called this water route the Northwest Passage.