Bentley Ch. 22 Global Connections

Columbus' greatest flaw in his plan to reach Asia by sailing west was that he greatly underestimated the circumference of the earth and was unaware of the existence of the continents of North and South America. This miscalculation led him to believe that he could reach Asia by sailing west, when in reality the distance was much greater than he anticipated. Additionally, his lack of knowledge about the existence of the Americas prevented him from accurately predicting the obstacles he would face during his voyage.

Vasco Da Gama's voyage in 1499 was significant in a global context because it opened the doors to direct maritime trading between Europe and Asia. This allowed for the establishment of permanent links between the two continents, enabling the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture. It played a crucial role in the expansion of European influence in Asia and foreshadowed Europe's coming dominance. This voyage also demonstrated that there was a faster passage to Asia through maritime routes, challenging the traditional overland routes. Additionally, it showcased Europe as a mighty trading power to the south and east Asian empires.

Columbus is the correct answer because the passage describes his experiences and observations during his voyages to the New World. He mentions the presence of gold in the land and how the indigenous people wear it as jewelry. He also mentions the potential for trading cotton in the region. This aligns with Columbus' accounts of his encounters with the indigenous people and his exploration of the Caribbean islands.

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Manila galleons were Spanish trading ships that sailed between Manila in the Philippines and Acapulco in Mexico. These voyages were part of the lucrative trade route known as the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade, which involved the exchange of goods between Asia and the Americas. Silver was the most desirable medium of exchange for these galleons because it was highly valued in both Asia and the Americas. The Spanish acquired large quantities of silver from their colonies in the Americas and used it to trade for luxury goods, spices, and other commodities in Asia.

Columbus was able to convince Ferdinand and Isabella to support his voyages because he believed that sailing west from Europe to Asia would be profitable based on his mathematical calculations of the earth's circumference. He presented them with the idea that such a route would bring wealth to their kingdom, which they recognized and saw the potential benefits. This aligns with their interests in expanding their kingdom's wealth and power.

The Dutch and the Spanish both wanted to dominate trade in Southeast Asia, but they did not necessarily aim to populate the region with European settlers. This suggests that their primary focus was on economic control and exploiting the region's resources rather than establishing permanent settlements or spreading Christianity.

The Seven Years' War was significant in the era of 1500-1800 because it placed Britain in a position to dominate world trade for the next 150 years. This war, fought between various European powers, including Britain, France, and Prussia, resulted in Britain gaining control over several colonies and territories, which greatly expanded its global influence and economic power. This dominance in world trade allowed Britain to establish a vast empire and become the leading global power during the following century and a half.

The indigenous populations of the western hemisphere were decimated by disease because they had no natural immunities to diseases from the eastern hemisphere. This is because the western hemisphere had developed in relative isolation from Europe, Asia, and Africa for thousands of years. As a result, when Europeans arrived in the western hemisphere, they brought diseases that the indigenous populations had never been exposed to before. Without any natural defenses or immunities, the diseases spread rapidly and had devastating effects on the indigenous populations.

Potatoes and maize were the New World crops that added the most calories to European diets and positively impacted sustainable population numbers. These crops were highly nutritious and could be grown in large quantities, providing a reliable food source. Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates and vitamins, while maize is a staple crop that is high in calories. The introduction of these crops to European diets helped to alleviate food shortages and improve overall nutrition, leading to an increase in population numbers.

The major motivations for European exploration of the world's oceans included the search for raw materials and mineral resources, the search for new lands to settle and cultivate, the desire to trade directly with Asian markets, and the urge to extend Christianity beyond Europe. However, population pressures in Europe were not a direct motivation for exploration, as the European population was not the primary reason for venturing into the unknown.

The key difference between the Portuguese approach and the approach taken by the Dutch and the English is that the Portuguese focused on militarily controlling trade routes and collecting customs duties, while the Dutch and the English focused on establishing trading posts to sell supplies and collect customs duties. The Portuguese prioritized military control, whereas the Dutch and English prioritized establishing trading posts for commercial purposes.

The cross staff and back staff were western European maritime innovations during the period of 1400-1800. These instruments were used for celestial navigation, allowing sailors to measure the angle between the horizon and a celestial body such as the sun or stars. This information was crucial for determining the ship's latitude at sea. The astrolabe, compass, and sternpost rudder were all important maritime technologies, but they were not specific to western Europe during this time period.

The Portuguese in Brazil were driven by the desire to spread Christianity, settle European farmers in new lands, control the trade of specific cash crops, and exploit natural resources. This can be seen in their establishment of colonies, conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity, cultivation of cash crops like sugar and tobacco, and extraction of resources like timber and minerals. The Portuguese were known for their aggressive colonization efforts and economic exploitation in Brazil, making them the most characteristic group for these motivations.