Download Exploration essay

Exploration essay
Created: 8:47:55 PM PST
Student: _________________________________________________________
1. In Christopher Columbus's journals, he suggested to the king and queen of Spain that they focus on
converting the peoples of the Americas because "in a short time you will end up having converted to our
Holy Faith a multitude of peoples and acquired large dominions and great riches." How does this brief
statement express the European goals for exploration? Why did the Europeans explore?
2. Why didn't powerful countries like China, India, and Japan take a concerted interest in exploring? In your
answer consider financial, societal, and geographical factors.
3. What developments and discoveries were important in the process of western European exploration?
4. Examine the technological innovations that allowed for European exploration. How many of those
innovations came from Europe originally? What other factors helped make sailing that far possible?
5. Examine the early Portuguese exploration and dominance in trade. What made this dominance possible?
Why didn't their early advantage last?
6. Examine the Seven Years' War. What started this conflict? Who won and what were the long-term
consequences of this victory?
7. Discuss the implications of the Columbian exchange. What crops and animals were being shipped back and
forth? Was there a negative side to this exchange? What would be the long-term consequences?
8. What role has disease played in world history up through and including the period of the Columbian
exchange? Be sure to consider the bubonic plague in China and Europe as well as the smallpox epidemics
that struck the Americas.
9. Explore the differing approaches to exploration, trade, and colonization of the western European nations.
What might explain these differences? How would these different approaches influence the areas being
explored and colonized?
10. Look at the illustration of the silk road on page 600. Why was the silk road so important? What was the
significance of the Europeans' finding an alternate route and avoiding the silk road? How did this
exploration impact the Europeans, the Islamic empires that formed the intermediaries of the silk road, and
the rest of the world?
Exploration essay KEY
Created: 8:47:55 PM PST
1. In Christopher Columbus's journals, he suggested to the king and queen of Spain that they focus on
converting the peoples of the Americas because "in a short time you will end up having converted to our
Holy Faith a multitude of peoples and acquired large dominions and great riches." How does this brief
statement express the European goals for exploration? Why did the Europeans explore?
Answers will vary
2. Why didn't powerful countries like China, India, and Japan take a concerted interest in exploring? In your
answer consider financial, societal, and geographical factors.
Answers will vary
3. What developments and discoveries were important in the process of western European exploration?
Answers will vary
4. Examine the technological innovations that allowed for European exploration. How many of those
innovations came from Europe originally? What other factors helped make sailing that far possible?
Answers will vary
5. Examine the early Portuguese exploration and dominance in trade. What made this dominance possible?
Why didn't their early advantage last?
Answers will vary
6. Examine the Seven Years' War. What started this conflict? Who won and what were the long-term
consequences of this victory?
Answers will vary
7. Discuss the implications of the Columbian exchange. What crops and animals were being shipped back and
forth? Was there a negative side to this exchange? What would be the long-term consequences?
Answers will vary
8. What role has disease played in world history up through and including the period of the Columbian
exchange? Be sure to consider the bubonic plague in China and Europe as well as the smallpox epidemics
that struck the Americas.
Answers will vary
9. Explore the differing approaches to exploration, trade, and colonization of the western European nations.
What might explain these differences? How would these different approaches influence the areas being
explored and colonized?
Answers will vary
10. Look at the illustration of the silk road on page 600. Why was the silk road so important? What was the
significance of the Europeans' finding an alternate route and avoiding the silk road? How did this
exploration impact the Europeans, the Islamic empires that formed the intermediaries of the silk road, and
the rest of the world?
Answers will vary