‭Section 5: The Age of Exploration and its impact (1400–1550)‬

‭1.‬ E ‭ xamine‬ ‭the‬ ‭consequences‬ ‭of‬ ‭Portuguese‬ ‭exploration‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭west‬ ‭coast‬ ‭of‬
‭Africa for European states.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬ ‭question‬‭requires‬‭that‬‭candidates‬‭consider‬‭the‬‭interrelationship‬‭between‬
‭the‬ ‭Portuguese‬‭exploration‬‭of‬‭the‬‭west‬‭coast‬‭of‬‭Africa‬‭and‬‭its‬‭consequences‬
‭for‬ ‭European‬ ‭states.‬‭Candidates‬‭may‬‭refer‬‭to‬‭the‬‭patronage‬‭of‬‭Prince‬‭Henry‬
‭the‬ ‭Navigator‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭voyages‬ ‭of‬ ‭Bartolomeu‬ ‭Dias‬ ‭and‬ ‭Vasco‬‭da‬‭Gama‬‭as‬
‭the‬ ‭starting‬ ‭point‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭contacts‬ ‭between‬ ‭Europe‬ ‭and‬ ‭Africa.‬ ‭Candidates‬
‭may‬ ‭examine‬ ‭the‬ ‭impact‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭creation‬ ‭of‬ ‭trading‬ ‭centres‬ ‭in‬ ‭Goa‬ ‭and‬
‭Malaysia‬‭that‬‭exported‬‭new‬‭spices‬‭to‬‭European‬‭states,‬‭and‬‭the‬‭contacts‬‭with‬
‭sub-Saharan‬ ‭kingdoms‬ ‭like‬ ‭Ghana,‬ ‭Mali,‬ ‭Benin,‬ ‭Songhai‬ ‭and‬ ‭Kongo‬ ‭that‬
‭benefited‬ ‭the‬ ‭European‬‭states‬‭with‬‭a‬‭flow‬‭of‬‭gold‬‭and‬‭slaves.‬‭Other‬‭relevant‬
‭consequences‬ ‭that‬ ‭may‬ ‭be‬ ‭considered‬ ‭are‬ ‭the‬ ‭new‬ ‭paths‬ ‭for‬ ‭subsequent‬
‭explorations‬‭by‬‭European‬‭states‬‭opened‬‭by‬‭the‬‭Portuguese,‬‭and‬‭the‬‭facilities‬
‭the‬ ‭explorations‬ ‭created‬ ‭to‬ ‭fight‬ ‭Muslim‬ ‭rulers.‬ ‭Candidates’‬ ‭opinions‬ ‭or‬
‭conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.‬
‭2.‬ ‭“The‬ ‭impact‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭‘Columbian‬ ‭Exchange’‬ ‭on‬ ‭Europe‬ ‭was‬ ‭positive.”‬ ‭To‬ ‭what‬
‭extent do you agree with this statement?‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭question‬‭requires‬‭that‬‭candidates‬‭consider‬‭the‬‭merits‬‭or‬‭otherwise‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭statement‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭impact‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭“Columbian‬ ‭Exchange”‬ ‭on‬ ‭Europe‬ ‭was‬
‭positive.‬ ‭Candidates‬ ‭may‬ ‭refer‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭positive‬ ‭impact‬ ‭that‬ ‭it‬‭had‬‭by‬‭bringing‬
‭new‬‭crops‬‭to‬‭Europe‬‭like‬‭potato,‬‭maize,‬‭tomato,‬‭sugarcane,‬‭coffee,‬‭fruits‬‭and‬
‭tobacco.‬ ‭These‬ ‭products‬ ‭allowed‬ ‭for‬ ‭population‬‭growth,‬‭a‬‭new‬‭expansion‬‭of‬
‭trade‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭initial‬ ‭shift‬ ‭towards‬ ‭capitalism.‬ ‭Candidates‬ ‭may‬ ‭consider‬ ‭the‬
‭introduction‬ ‭into‬ ‭Europe‬ ‭of‬‭metals‬‭from‬‭America‬‭and‬‭the‬‭impact‬‭they‬‭had‬‭on‬
‭financial‬ ‭and‬ ‭commercial‬ ‭activities.‬ ‭Candidates‬ ‭may‬ ‭also‬ ‭address‬ ‭other‬
‭relevant‬ ‭factors,‬ ‭for‬ ‭example‬ ‭the‬ ‭imposition‬ ‭of‬ ‭European‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭patterns,‬
‭values‬ ‭and‬ ‭religion‬ ‭that‬ ‭empowered‬ ‭European‬ ‭states.‬ ‭Candidates‬ ‭may‬
‭challenge‬ ‭the‬ ‭statement‬ ‭considering‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭imported‬ ‭new‬ ‭crops‬ ‭disrupted‬
‭European‬‭ecosystems‬‭and‬‭imposed‬‭new‬‭methods‬‭of‬‭labour‬‭on‬‭peasants,‬‭and‬
‭by‬‭referring‬‭to‬‭the‬‭introduction‬‭of‬‭new‬‭diseases‬‭among‬‭European‬‭populations.‬
‭Candidates’‬ ‭opinions‬ ‭or‬ ‭conclusions‬ ‭will‬‭be‬‭presented‬‭clearly‬‭and‬‭supported‬
‭by appropriate evidence.‬
‭3.‬ ‭Discuss‬ ‭the‬ ‭significance‬ ‭of‬ ‭Henry‬ ‭the‬ ‭Navigator‬ ‭as‬ ‭an‬ ‭enabler‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭Age‬ ‭of‬
‭Exploration.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭question‬‭requires‬‭that‬‭candidates‬‭offer‬‭a‬‭considered‬‭and‬‭balanced‬‭review‬
‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭significance‬ ‭of‬ ‭Henry‬ ‭the‬ ‭Navigator‬ ‭as‬ ‭an‬ ‭enabler‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭Age‬ ‭of‬
‭Exploration.‬ ‭Candidates‬ ‭may‬ ‭refer‬ ‭to‬ ‭his‬ ‭importance‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬‭key‬‭figure‬‭in‬‭15th‬
‭century‬ ‭Portuguese‬ ‭politics‬ ‭and‬ ‭to‬ ‭his‬ ‭sponsorship‬ ‭of‬ ‭exploratory‬ ‭sea‬
‭voyages.‬‭He‬‭has‬‭been‬‭viewed‬‭as‬‭a‬‭main‬‭initiator‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Age‬‭of‬‭Discoveries,‬‭as‬
‭well‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭founder‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Atlantic‬ ‭slave‬ ‭trade.‬ ‭Henry‬ ‭the‬ ‭Navigator‬ ‭was‬
‭responsible‬‭for‬‭the‬‭early‬‭development‬‭of‬‭Portuguese‬‭exploration‬‭and‬‭maritime‬
‭trade‬ ‭with‬ ‭other‬ ‭continents‬ ‭and,‬ ‭under‬ ‭his‬ ‭sponsorship,‬ ‭the‬ ‭Portuguese‬
‭circumvented‬‭the‬‭Muslim‬‭land-based‬‭trade‬‭routes‬‭across‬‭the‬‭western‬‭Sahara,‬
‭eventually‬ ‭leading‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭first‬ ‭private‬‭mercantile‬‭expeditions.‬‭His‬‭expeditions‬
‭also‬ ‭explored‬ ‭the‬ ‭coast‬‭of‬‭Africa,‬‭most‬‭of‬‭which‬‭was‬‭unknown‬‭to‬‭Europeans‬
‭at‬ ‭that‬ ‭time.‬ ‭Under‬ ‭his‬ ‭direction,‬ ‭the‬ ‭caravel‬ ‭was‬ ‭developed,‬‭and‬‭he‬‭is‬‭also‬
 ‭ redited‬ ‭with‬ ‭furthering‬ ‭knowledge‬‭of‬‭geography,‬‭mapmaking‬‭and‬‭navigation‬
c
‭through his school.‬
‭4.‬ ‭“The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) was of limited significance.” Discuss.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭question‬‭requires‬‭that‬‭candidates‬‭offer‬‭a‬‭considered‬‭and‬‭balanced‬‭review‬
‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭statement.‬ ‭Candidates‬‭may‬‭refer‬‭to‬‭the‬‭treaty’s‬‭importance‬‭in‬‭dividing‬
‭Latin‬ ‭America,‬‭as‬‭well‬‭as‬‭establishing‬‭Spain’s‬‭position‬‭in‬‭the‬‭western‬‭Pacific‬
‭until‬‭1898.‬‭It‬‭also‬‭established‬‭boundaries‬‭in‬‭the‬‭New‬‭World‬‭for‬‭the‬‭quarrelling‬
‭European‬ ‭powers.‬ ‭The‬ ‭treaty‬ ‭also‬‭ensured‬‭Portugal‬‭and‬‭Spain‬‭could‬‭exploit‬
‭their‬ ‭allocated‬ ‭parts‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭globe‬ ‭without‬ ‭interfering‬ ‭with‬ ‭each‬ ‭other.‬ ‭A‬
‭significant‬ ‭impact‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭treaty‬ ‭was‬ ‭the‬ ‭precedent‬ ‭it‬‭set‬‭in‬‭dealing‬‭with‬‭local‬
‭indigenous‬ ‭peoples‬ ‭of‬ ‭colonised‬ ‭lands.‬ ‭However,‬ ‭the‬ ‭treaty‬ ‭quickly‬ ‭became‬
‭obsolete‬‭in‬‭North‬‭America,‬‭Asia‬‭and‬‭Africa,‬‭affecting‬‭colonisation,‬‭and‬‭it‬‭was‬
‭ignored‬ ‭by‬ ‭European‬ ‭nations.‬ ‭Other‬ ‭powers‬ ‭and‬ ‭affected‬ ‭peoples‬ ‭were‬
‭confused‬‭by‬‭the‬‭treaty’s‬‭unclear‬‭lines‬‭of‬‭demarcation.‬‭Candidates‬‭may‬‭agree,‬
‭partly agree or disagree with the statement.‬
‭5.‬ ‭Discuss‬ ‭the‬ ‭significance‬ ‭for‬ ‭Portugal‬ ‭of‬ ‭its‬ ‭exploration‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭west‬ ‭coast‬ ‭of‬
‭Africa.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬‭question‬‭requires‬‭that‬‭candidates‬‭offer‬‭a‬‭considered‬‭and‬‭balanced‬‭review‬
‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭significance‬ ‭for‬ ‭Portugal‬ ‭of‬ ‭its‬ ‭exploration‬ ‭of‬‭the‬‭west‬‭coast‬‭of‬‭Africa.‬
‭The‬‭significance‬‭may‬‭extend‬‭beyond‬‭the‬‭timeframe.‬‭Candidates‬‭may‬‭refer‬‭to‬
‭the‬ ‭fact‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭exploration‬ ‭provided‬ ‭the‬ ‭Portuguese‬‭with‬‭a‬‭great‬‭economic‬
‭advantage‬ ‭and‬ ‭trade‬ ‭networks‬ ‭were‬ ‭established.‬ ‭Candidates‬‭may‬‭also‬‭refer‬
‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭fact‬ ‭that‬ ‭domestically‬ ‭it‬ ‭had‬ ‭very‬ ‭little‬ ‭popular‬ ‭support‬ ‭and‬ ‭caused‬
‭tensions‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭enterprise‬ ‭and‬ ‭benefits‬ ‭of‬ ‭exploration‬ ‭were‬‭only‬‭enjoyed‬‭by‬
‭the‬ ‭nobility.‬ ‭Candidates‬ ‭may‬ ‭discuss‬ ‭the‬ ‭fact‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭slave‬ ‭trade‬ ‭impacted‬
‭Portugal‬ ‭domestically‬ ‭with‬ ‭slaves‬ ‭becoming‬ ‭significant‬ ‭minorities‬ ‭in‬ ‭various‬
‭cities.‬ ‭While‬ ‭other‬ ‭relevant‬ ‭factors,‬ ‭for‬ ‭example,‬ ‭how‬ ‭it‬ ‭transformed‬ ‭West‬
‭African‬ ‭states‬ ‭or‬ ‭its‬ ‭relation‬ ‭to‬‭the‬‭larger‬‭Asian‬‭spice‬‭route,‬‭may‬‭be‬‭referred‬
‭to, the bulk of the response will remain on the issue raised in the question.‬
‭6.‬ ‭Evaluate the consequences of the exploration of the New World for Europe.‬
‭a.‬ ‭The‬ ‭question‬ ‭requires‬ ‭that‬ ‭candidates‬ ‭make‬ ‭an‬ ‭appraisal‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬
‭consequences‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭exploration‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭New‬ ‭World‬ ‭for‬ ‭Europe.‬
‭Consequences‬ ‭may‬ ‭extend‬ ‭beyond‬ ‭the‬ ‭timeframe‬ ‭but‬ ‭they‬ ‭must‬ ‭be‬ ‭clearly‬
‭linked‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭issue‬ ‭raised‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭question.‬ ‭Candidates‬ ‭may‬ ‭refer‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬
‭transformation‬ ‭of‬ ‭economic‬ ‭relationships‬ ‭of‬ ‭mediaeval‬ ‭Europe‬ ‭through‬ ‭the‬
‭introduction‬ ‭of‬ ‭gold‬ ‭and‬ ‭silver.‬‭Candidates‬‭may‬‭discuss‬‭the‬‭impact‬‭on‬‭social‬
‭and‬ ‭class‬ ‭structures‬ ‭where‬ ‭the‬ ‭merchants‬ ‭and‬ ‭manufacturers‬ ‭slowly‬
‭replaced,‬ ‭in‬ ‭many‬ ‭cases,‬ ‭the‬ ‭land-owning‬ ‭nobility.‬ ‭Candidates‬ ‭may‬ ‭refer‬ ‭to‬
‭the‬ ‭rethinking‬ ‭of‬ ‭political‬ ‭and‬ ‭commercial‬ ‭enterprises‬ ‭consolidating‬‭relations‬
‭between‬ ‭entrepreneurs‬ ‭and‬ ‭governments.‬ ‭There‬ ‭may‬ ‭be‬ ‭reference‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬
‭introduction‬ ‭of‬ ‭new‬ ‭plants‬‭and‬‭foods‬‭to‬‭the‬‭European‬‭market‬‭and‬‭its‬‭impact.‬
‭Candidates‬‭may‬‭refer‬‭to‬‭a‬‭New‬‭World‬‭view‬‭of‬‭the‬‭globe‬‭and‬‭Europe’s‬‭place‬‭in‬
‭it establishing a Eurocentric perspective.‬
‭7.‬ ‭Evaluate‬ ‭the‬ ‭significance‬ ‭of‬ ‭Henry‬ ‭the‬ ‭Navigator‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭15th-century‬
‭exploration of Africa.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Candidates‬ ‭must‬ ‭demonstrate‬ ‭a‬ ‭clear‬ ‭understanding‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭requirements‬ ‭of‬
‭the‬ ‭question‬ ‭and‬ ‭effectively‬ ‭deploy‬ ‭knowledge‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭key‬ ‭issue(s)‬‭raised‬‭by‬
 t‭he‬ ‭question;‬ ‭in‬ ‭this‬ ‭case‬ ‭the‬ ‭significance‬ ‭of‬ ‭Henry‬ ‭the‬ ‭Navigator‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬
‭15th-century exploration of Africa.‬
‭b.‬ ‭Points discussed may include:‬
‭i.‬ ‭Henry’s‬‭patronage‬‭of‬‭exploration,‬‭including‬‭his‬‭supposed‬‭creation‬‭of‬‭a‬
‭community‬ ‭of‬ ‭cartographers‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭Sagres‬ ‭peninsula,‬ ‭including‬
‭Jehuda Cresques;‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Henry’s‬ ‭involvement‬ ‭in‬ ‭both‬ ‭enslavement‬ ‭and‬ ‭conversion‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬
‭debate over his reputation;‬
‭iii.‬ ‭The‬‭importance‬‭of‬‭expeditions‬‭ordered‬‭by‬‭Henry‬‭under‬‭the‬‭leadership‬
‭of‬ ‭sailors‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭Cadamosto,‬ ‭Eanes,‬ ‭Velho,‬ ‭Perestrelo,‬ ‭Zarco‬ ‭and‬
‭Teixeira;‬
‭iv.‬ ‭His‬ ‭patronage‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭University‬‭of‬‭Lisbon,‬‭and‬‭its‬‭link‬‭to‬‭his‬‭scientific‬
‭interests;‬ ‭•‬ ‭His‬ ‭patronage‬ ‭of‬ ‭naval‬ ‭design‬ ‭to‬‭facilitate‬‭explorations‬‭of‬
‭longer duration;‬
‭v.‬ ‭The failure of the expedition to Tangier in 1437;‬
‭vi.‬ ‭Responses‬ ‭achieving‬ ‭marks‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭top‬ ‭bands‬ ‭will‬ ‭provide‬ ‭a‬ ‭clear‬
‭judgement‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭significance‬ ‭of‬ ‭Henry‬ ‭the‬ ‭Navigator‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬
‭15th-century exploration of Africa.‬
‭8.‬ ‭Examine the importance of religion as a motive for European exploration.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Candidates‬ ‭must‬ ‭demonstrate‬ ‭a‬ ‭clear‬ ‭understanding‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭requirements‬ ‭of‬
‭the‬ ‭question‬ ‭and‬ ‭effectively‬ ‭deploy‬ ‭knowledge‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭key‬ ‭issue(s)‬‭raised‬‭by‬
‭the‬ ‭question;‬ ‭in‬ ‭this‬ ‭case‬ ‭the‬ ‭relative‬ ‭importance‬ ‭of‬ ‭religion‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬‭motive‬‭for‬
‭European‬ ‭exploration‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭15th‬ ‭and‬ ‭early‬ ‭16th‬ ‭centuries.‬ ‭There‬ ‭are‬
‭numerous‬ ‭possible‬ ‭motives‬ ‭for‬ ‭European‬ ‭exploration,‬ ‭and‬ ‭candidates‬ ‭must‬
‭assess the relative importance of religion.‬
‭b.‬ ‭Points discussed may include:‬
‭i.‬ ‭Religious‬‭motives:‬‭desire‬‭to‬‭convert‬‭people‬‭in‬‭new‬‭lands;‬‭continue‬‭the‬
‭Crusades‬ ‭against‬ ‭Islam;‬ ‭contact‬ ‭Christian‬ ‭kingdoms‬ ‭in‬ ‭Africa‬ ‭that‬
‭some people believed to exist;‬
‭ii.‬ ‭Commercial‬ ‭motives:‬ ‭searching‬ ‭for‬ ‭gold,‬ ‭spices‬ ‭and‬ ‭other‬ ‭luxury‬
‭products‬ ‭from‬ ‭the‬ ‭East;‬ ‭the‬ ‭Ottoman‬ ‭conquest‬ ‭of‬ ‭Byzantium‬
‭threatened‬ ‭to‬ ‭close‬ ‭trade‬ ‭routes‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭East‬ ‭–‬ ‭new‬ ‭ones‬ ‭had‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬
‭opened;‬
‭iii.‬ ‭Political‬ ‭motives:‬ ‭European‬ ‭countries‬ ‭saw‬ ‭exploration‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭way‬ ‭to‬
‭increase‬ ‭their‬ ‭wealth‬ ‭and‬ ‭strategic‬ ‭power‬ ‭versus‬‭rivals;‬‭patronage‬‭of‬
‭influential‬ ‭leaders‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭Henry‬ ‭the‬ ‭Navigator‬ ‭inspired‬ ‭the‬
‭movement;‬
‭iv.‬ ‭Individual‬‭motives:‬‭ambitious‬‭individuals‬‭such‬‭as‬‭Columbus‬‭and‬‭Cabot‬
‭set‬‭out‬‭to‬‭seek‬‭personal‬‭fortunes‬‭and‬‭influence;‬‭stories‬‭of‬‭the‬‭East‬‭by‬
‭individuals‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭Marco‬ ‭Polo‬ ‭inspired‬ ‭others‬ ‭to‬ ‭seek‬ ‭these‬
‭territories;‬
‭v.‬ ‭Other‬ ‭reasons‬ ‭for‬ ‭exploration:‬ ‭improvements‬ ‭in‬ ‭ship‬ ‭design,‬
‭navigational‬ ‭instruments‬ ‭and‬ ‭maps‬ ‭made‬ ‭increased‬ ‭exploration‬
‭possible;‬
‭vi.‬ ‭Responses‬ ‭achieving‬ ‭marks‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭top‬ ‭bands‬ ‭will‬ ‭provide‬ ‭a‬ ‭clear‬
‭judgement‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭importance‬ ‭of‬ ‭religion‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭motive‬ ‭for‬ ‭European‬
‭exploration.‬