Which statement best describes how Henry the Navigator, Dias, da Gama, Columbus, Magellan, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, and Pope Leo X’s roles led to the expansion of empires?
The roles of Henry the Navigator, Dias, da Gama, Columbus, Magellan, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, and Pope Leo X can be described as influential in leading to the expansion of empires through their contributions to exploration, colonization, and the spread of Christianity.
Henry the Navigator, a Portuguese prince, played a major role in promoting and financing voyages of exploration during the 15th century. His efforts laid the foundation for Portugal's empire-building and the discovery of new trade routes.
Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese explorer, was the first to navigate around the southernmost tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope. By doing so, he opened the possibility of establishing direct trade routes with Asian countries.
Vasco da Gama, another Portuguese explorer, successfully sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and reached India in 1498. This achievement established the first direct sea route between Europe and Asia, bypassing the Ottoman Empire and enabling Portugal to dominate the Indian Ocean trade.
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, convinced Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain to sponsor his voyage to reach Asia by sailing westward. Although Columbus mistakenly believed he had reached Asia, his voyage in 1492 resulted in the "discovery" of the Americas, leading to the eventual colonization and establishment of the Spanish Empire in the New World.
Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer in the service of Spain, led the first circumnavigation of the globe from 1519 to 1522. While Magellan himself did not complete the journey, his expedition proved the Earth's roundness and paved the way for further European exploration and colonization.
Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain were instrumental in financing and supporting the voyages of Columbus and subsequent explorers. Their sponsorship of these expeditions significantly expanded Spanish territories and influence, including the colonization of the Americas.
Pope Leo X, by granting the exclusive rights to Portugal and Spain in the territories they discovered, played a crucial role in legitimizing their claims to newly explored lands. His papal bull, the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), divided the newly discovered territories between Portugal and Spain and allowed them to secure their empires and expand their control.
In summary, the roles of Henry the Navigator, Dias, da Gama, Columbus, Magellan, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, and Pope Leo X collectively contributed to the expansion of empires through exploration, colonization, and the spread of Christianity.