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LESSON 5- THE BEGINNING OF THE MODERN AGE.
1 and 2-EUROPE IN THE 15TH CENTURY
NAME THE MAIN FEATURES OF EUROPE . Europe was poor compared to other
IN THE 15TH CENTURY
WHAT WAS THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN EUROPE AND THE FAR EAST?
2- TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
EXPLAIN THE CAUSES OF THE
EXPANSION
EXPLAIN HOW TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENT HELPED TO DRIVE
VOYAGES OF EXPLORATION
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DEPARTAMENTO DE XEOGRAFÍA E HISTORIA
civilisations such as China.
. Population grew slowly and unevenly due to
high birth and death rates and a low life
expectancy (35 years).
. Society was divide into three estates: nobility
and clergy (privileged estates) and non-
privilaged estate (the commoners made up of
merchants, rural landowners, craftspeople and
baggers.
. Economy based on agriculture (cereals, vines,
olives, flax) and livestock farming (sheep, cattle,
pigs). Guilds controlled crafts and most trade
was carried out in local markets
Products from the Far East (silk, porcelain and
spices) were highly valued in Europe. Italian
city-states (Genova and Venice) controlled this
trade.
Silk was carried along the Silk Road.
Spices (paper, cloves, cinnamon) were used to
preserve and flavour food. The spices were
grown in India.
On one hand, in 1453, the Turks conquered
Constantinople, the gateway to Europe for
many luxury goods from the East, so merchants
had to find alternative routes to Asia.
On the other one, there was a great interest in
exploration. This was triggered by the spread of
the travel books (Marco Polo).
In the 15th century they began to use some new
navigational instruments.
-The astrolabe determined latitude by
measuring the altitude of the Sun or the Pole
Star. The longitude was approximate.
-The log and the sand glass were used together
to measure a ship’s speed.
-The comps came to Europe from the East. It
pointed the north, so that it was possible to
navigate without using the coast.
-Portolan charts or cartas nautical were used.
-The caravel was a new, lighter and safer ship
that could carry more cargo than other vessels.
The galleon was introduced later and it had a

3-THE PORTUGUESE EXPEDITIONS
WHY DIDN’T THE PORTUGUESE FOLLOW They wanted to find a new trade route as the
THE TRADE ROUTE ACROSS THE
MEDITERRANEAN SEA?
WHO WAS HENRY THE NAVIGATOR?
WHO WERE BARTHOLOMEW DIAS,
VASCO DE GAMA AND PEDRO ÁLVARES
CABRAL?
4 and 5-THE EXPEDITIONS OF CASTILLA
WHY DID COLÓN ASK PORTUGAL TO
FUND HIS EXPEDITION FIRST?
WHY DID CASTILLA AND PORTUGAL
ASK THE POPE TO HELP?
WHAT WAS THE TREATY OF
TORDESILLAS? WHEN WAS IT SIGNED?
AND WHAT DID IT DECIDE?
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DEPARTAMENTO DE XEOGRAFÍA E HISTORIA
greater cargo capacity.
Mediterranean one was controlled by Italians.
So, they started the exploration of Africa to
reach Far East and controlled the silk and spice
trade.
He was son of king John of Portugal. He made
his base in the village of Sagres and he brought
together cartographers, astronomers,
shipbuilders… There, sailors received training
for the voyage and created maps.
Bartholomew Dias was the sailor that reached
the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of
Africa. So, he opened a route to the Indian
Ocean.
Vasco de Gama reached India in 1497.
Pedro Álvares Cabral arrived in Brazil in 1500.
Fernando de Magallanes, in 1519 led an
expedition to reach the Molucas Islands.
Juan Sebastián Elcano, returned to Spain in
1522 completing the first voyage around the
world.
He wanted to reach Asia sailing west. So, he
presented his plan to the king of Portugal who
rejected it as portugueses
Because of the rivalry between Castilla and
Portugal. They asked to pope to help mediate the
conflict and decide who had rights over the new
lands.
The Treaty of Tordesillas was an accord
between Castilla and Portugal to divide the new
land.
It was signed in 1494 and established a line of
division between the Castilian and Portuguese
territories. This line would be along a meridian
around 2,000 km west of Cape Verde. Three
lands to the west of the meridian to Portugal.
This meant that most of the Americas were left
to Castilla. Portugal would have Africa and Asia
as well as Brazil, which they reached years after
the treaty.
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DEPARTAMENTO DE XEOGRAFÍA E HISTORIA

5- AMERICA BEFORE CRISTÓBAL CONLON’S ARRIVAL

DEFINE: PRE-COLUMBIAN PEOPLES and The pre-Columbians were peoples that lived in
INCA. American continent before Colón arrived. Such
as the Caribs or the Tainos.
The Inca was the emperor of the Inca empire,
who was believed to be a descendant of the Sun.
MAKE A CHART TO COMPARE THE society economy culture
AZTEC EMPIRE, THE MAYAN
CIVILISATION AND THE INCA EMPIRE Aztec E. Divided into Agriculture Polytheistic.
tribes. was the main They built
Groups: activity. walled cities,
nobility, palaces and
merchants, temples
peasants,
craftspeople
and slaves
Mayan It consisted of Agriculture, Polytheistic
independent crafts and Excelled in
cities. trade were mathematics,
Groups: the main astronomy
priests, activities. Built palaces
peasants, and temples.
craftspeople
and slaves
Inca E. The Inca was Peasants PolythisticT
the highest grew crops heyy built
authority. such as corn palaces,
Groups: and potatoes. temples and
nobility, They were fortressed
peasants and skilled such Machu
slaves. goldsmiths Picchu.
and potters.

COMPARE THE PRE-COLUMBIAN AULA VIRTUAL PAGE 141 NUMBER 8

AMERICAN WOMEN’S LIFE AND THE Page 144 number
SITUATION WOMEN’S IN OUR SOCIETY.
WHICH DIFFERENCES DO YOU FIND?