Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
An Age of Explorations and Isolation
Section 1
Europeans Explore the East
Terms and Names
Bartolomeu Dias Portuguese explorer who rounded the tip of Africa
Prince Henry Portuguese supporter of exploration
Vasco da Gama Explorer who gave Portugal a direct sea route to India
Treaty of Tordesillas Treaty between Spain and Portugal dividing newly discovered
lands between them
Dutch East India Company Dutch company that established and directed trade
throughout Asia
Before You Read
In the last chapter, you read about empire building in Asia.
In this section, you will learn why and how Europeans began an age of
exploration.
As You Read
Use a time line to take notes on important events in the European
exploration of the East.
FOR “GOD, GLORY, AND GOLD” had triangle-shaped sails that allowed it to
(Pages 95–96) sail against the wind. Ships could now
Why did Europeans begin to explore travel far out into the ocean. The magnetic
new lands? compass allowed sea captains to stay on
For many centuries, Europeans did not course better.
have much contact with people from other 1. What were the two main reasons for
lands. That changed in the 1400s. European exploration?
Europeans hoped to gain new sources of
wealth. By exploring the seas, traders _______________________________
hoped to find new, faster routes to Asia—
the source of spices and luxury goods. _______________________________
Another reason for exploration was
_______________________________
spreading Christianity to new lands.
Bartolomeu Dias, an early Portuguese
explorer, explained his motives: “to serve PORTUGAL LEADS THE WAY;
God and His Majesty, to give light to SPAIN ALSO MAKES CLAIMS
those who were in darkness and to grow (Pages 96–99)
rich as all men desire to do.” How did Portugal lead the way in
Advances in technology made these exploration?
voyages possible. A new kind of ship, the Portugal was the first nation to develop
caravel, was stronger than earlier ships. It the caravel and magnetic compass.
Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
38 Guided Reading Workbook
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Section 1, continued
Prince Henry was committed to the idea TRADING EMPIRES IN THE INDIAN
of exploring. In 1419, he started a school OCEAN (Pages 99–101)
of navigation. Sea captains, mapmakers, Who established trading empires in
and navigators met and exchanged ideas the Indian Ocean?
there. Portugal moved quickly to make the
Over the next few decades, Portuguese new Indian Ocean route pay off. Through
captains sailed farther and farther down military might, Portugal gained power
the west coast of Africa. In 1488, over islands that were rich in desirable
Bartolomeu Dias reached the southern tip spices. They were called the Spice Islands.
of Africa. Ten years later, Vasco da Spices now cost Europeans one-fifth of
Gama led a ship around Africa, to India what they had cost before, while still
and back. The Portuguese had found a sea making Portugal very wealthy.
route to Asia. Other European nations joined in this
The Spanish, meanwhile, had plans of trade. In the 1600s, the English and Dutch
their own. Christopher Columbus entered the East Indies. They quickly
convinced the king and queen that he broke Portuguese power in the area. Then
could reach Asia by sailing west. In 1492, both nations set up an East India Company
instead of landing in Asia, Columbus to control Asian trade. These companies
touched land in the islands of the were more than businesses. They were like
Americas. Spain and Portugal argued over governments. They had the power to make
which nation had the rights to the land that money, sign treaties, and raise their own
Columbus had claimed. In 1494, they armies. The Dutch East India Company
signed the Treaty of Tordesillas. It was richer and more powerful than
divided the world into two areas. Portugal England’s company.
won the right to control the eastern parts— By 1700, the Dutch ruled much of
including Africa, India, and other parts of Indonesia. They had trading posts in many
Asia. Spain got the western parts— other Asian countries and commanded the
including most of the Americas. southern tip of Africa. At the same time,
2. How did Spain and Portugal solve both England and France finally gained
their differences over claims to new footholds in India.
lands? Nevertheless, even though Europeans
controlled the trade between Asia and
______________________________ Europe, they had little impact on most
people living in these areas.
______________________________
3. How did the Dutch and English
become Indian Ocean trading powers?
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
39 Guided Reading Workbook
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Section 1, continued
As you read about the age of exploration, take notes to answer questions
about events listed in the time line.
Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
40 Guided Reading Workbook
