Which best explains why Europeans wanted to send explorers to East Asia in the 1400s?
There are several reasons why Europeans wanted to send explorers to East Asia in the 1400s:
1. Trade: One of the primary motivations was to establish trade routes with East Asia. Europeans had a high demand for luxury goods such as spices, silk, and precious metals, which were not easily accessible through existing trade networks. By finding new sea routes, they hoped to bypass the monopoly of Arab and Italian merchants who controlled the overland routes to the East.
2. Competition: European powers, particularly Portugal and Spain, were in fierce competition with each other and other European nations. Explorers represented an opportunity to gain an advantage over rival nations by discovering new lands, resources, and trade routes. This competition was fueled by a desire to assert dominance and increase their global influence.
3. Spread of Christianity: Another significant motivation was the desire to spread Christianity to other regions of the world. Europeans saw exploration as an opportunity to convert people in East Asia to Christianity and undermine the predominance of Islam and other non-Christian religions. This religious motive often went hand-in-hand with imperialistic desires.
4. Scientific and technological advancements: The 1400s were a period of significant scientific and technological progress in Europe, known as the Renaissance. Explorers were motivated by the desire to expand knowledge, understand the world better, and make scientific discoveries. The development of maritime technologies, such as improved shipbuilding techniques and navigational instruments like the astrolabe, enabled these explorations.
5. Prestige and glory: Exploration was seen as an opportunity for individuals and nations to gain prestige, glory, and fame. European rulers and explorers wanted to carve their names in history by embarking on ambitious journeys, discovering new lands, and conquering distant territories. Explorations were often sponsored by monarchs who wanted to promote their own legacy and prestige.
It is important to note that these motivations were not mutually exclusive, and European explorers were driven by a combination of economic, political, religious, scientific, and personal ambitions.
How did Elizabeth I promote an English empire?
Elizabeth I promoted the establishment of an English empire through various strategies and policies:
1. Encouragement of Privateering: Privateering, also known as state-sanctioned piracy, was a common practice during Elizabethan times. Elizabeth I encouraged privateers by giving them licenses known as "letters of marque." These licenses authorized private individuals, such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, to raid and plunder enemy ships and colonies, specifically targeting Spanish ships and territories. This allowed England to weaken its Spanish rival and accumulate wealth and resources.
2. Support for Exploration: Elizabeth I sponsored several expeditions to explore new territories and establish English presence overseas. For instance, she supported Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation voyage, which made him the first Englishman to sail around the world. Additionally, she supported Sir Walter Raleigh's attempts to establish colonies in the Americas, particularly in Roanoke (which ultimately failed).
3. Naval Expansion: Elizabeth I invested heavily in the English navy, recognizing the importance of a strong naval force to protect English interests, trade routes, and colonies. She implemented reforms, encouraging shipbuilding, modernizing existing vessels, and improving naval infrastructure. This naval expansion played a crucial role in the defense and expansion of English territories.
4. Chartering of Trading Companies: Elizabeth I granted charters to various trading companies, such as the Muscovy Company and the Levant Company. These companies had exclusive rights to trade with specific regions and were instrumental in expanding English commerce and establishing trade networks abroad.
5. Defiance against Spain: Elizabeth I's reign coincided with a period of intense rivalry and conflict with Spain, especially during the Spanish Armada crisis in 1588. Her decisive actions during the crisis cemented her position as a strong and capable leader. This defiance against Spanish power boosted English national pride and laid the foundation for future English imperial aspirations.
6. Diplomacy and Alliances: Elizabeth I skillfully utilized diplomatic maneuvers and alliances to protect English interests and expand English influence. For example, she formed alliances with Protestant Dutch rebels against Spanish rule, providing support in their struggle for independence. These alliances helped to weaken Spanish dominance and establish English influence in the region.
Overall, Elizabeth I's promotion of an English empire was characterized by a combination of privateering, exploration, naval expansion, chartering of trading companies, defiance against Spain, and diplomatic maneuvers. These strategies laid the groundwork for England's future colonial ventures and its emergence as a significant global power.
How did Elizabeth I promote an English empire?
Responses
hired Christopher Columbus
hired Christopher Columbus
financed the Virginia Company
financed the Virginia Company
opened a school for navigators
opened a school for navigators
sponsored English exploration
I apologize for the confusion, but the information given is incorrect. Elizabeth I did not hire Christopher Columbus or finance the Virginia Company. Furthermore, she did not open a school for navigators. However, it is correct that Elizabeth I sponsored English exploration. Please disregard the previous responses and refer to the revised answer below:
One of the ways Elizabeth I promoted an English empire was through sponsorship of English exploration. She supported expeditions by granting charters and financial backing to explorers such as Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Martin Frobisher. These explorers were sent to search for new trade routes, establish colonies, and expand English influence overseas.
Elizabeth I's support for exploration led to significant voyages, such as Drake's circumnavigation of the globe and Raleigh's attempts to establish colonies in the Americas. These ventures laid the groundwork for English colonial expansion and the eventual establishment of an English empire.
Why did Columbus think he had reached Asia when he landed in the Americas?
Responses
He miscalculated the size of the Earth by more than half.
He miscalculated the size of the Earth by more than half.
The land looked like the pictures he had of Asia.
The land looked like the pictures he had of Asia.
He believed the Indians who told him that he had reached Asia.
He believed the Indians who told him that he had reached Asia.
His instruments indicated that his location was 120° W longitude.
The main reason why Christopher Columbus thought he had reached Asia when he landed in the Americas was due to a miscalculation of the Earth's size.
At the time, Columbus believed that the Earth was smaller than it actually is. He miscalculated the circumference of the Earth by more than half, underestimating its size. Based on his calculations, he believed that he could reach Asia by sailing westward from Europe, a route that would have been significantly shorter than the traditional eastward land route.
Additionally, Columbus's belief was reinforced by the fact that the Caribbean islands and the land he encountered in the Americas looked similar to the descriptions and images he had seen of Asia in maps and travel accounts. The landscapes, vegetation, and even the native people he encountered seemed to match his preconceived notions of Asia.
Columbus also received information from Native Americans he encountered, who either intentionally or mistakenly believed they were in or near Asia. They provided him with further confirmation that he had indeed arrived in Asia. This reinforced his confidence in his belief.
Lastly, it is worth noting that the mention of Columbus's instruments indicating a longitude of 120° W is not accurate. The instruments that Columbus and his crew had at the time, such as astrolabes and quadrant, were not capable of accurately measuring longitude. The technology to measure longitude accurately would only be developed several decades later.
How did European conquerors meet their need for labor on sugar plantations?
Responses
They hired the unemployed population of Europe.
They hired the unemployed population of Europe.
They brought enslaved Africans to the Americas.
They brought enslaved Africans to the Americas.
They paid Native Americans to do the work.
They paid Native Americans to do the work.
They bought new machines that did much of the work.
The correct response is: They brought enslaved Africans to the Americas.
European conquerors, particularly in the Caribbean and later in other parts of the Americas, met their need for labor on sugar plantations by forcibly bringing and enslaving Africans. The transatlantic slave trade was established to provide a constant supply of enslaved Africans who were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean and sold as laborers on plantations.
Enslaved Africans were viewed as a cheap and abundant source of labor, as they were seen as resilient to the harsh working conditions and diseases prevalent in the Americas. They were systematically bought, sold, and owned as property, subjected to grueling labor on plantations for the sole benefit of European plantation owners.
This system of slavery, rooted in racial discrimination, perpetuated the exploitation and abuse of millions of Africans over centuries, and played a significant role in the economic development of European colonial powers in the Americas through the establishment of lucrative plantation economies, particularly in the production of cash crops like sugar.
Which best describes the Aztecs?
Responses
They allowed the Spanish to build forts as bases for exploration in exchange for guns and horses.
They allowed the Spanish to build forts as bases for exploration in exchange for guns and horses.
They had a complex civilization that was destroyed by the Spanish conquerors.
They had a complex civilization that was destroyed by the Spanish conquerors.
They had a secret city called Cíbola, where they hid from the Spanish for more than a century.
They had a secret city called Cíbola, where they hid from the Spanish for more than a century.
They defeated the Spanish in battle and made them pay tribute in gold.