• Syllabus

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

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Sub sections and their related questions

Motives for exploration and reasons for its increase in the 15th century: religion and exploration; national and personal rivalries; the quest for knowledge; opening up of new trade routes for luxury goods

• 17N.3op4.HL.TZ0.09: Compare and contrast Spanish and Portuguese motives for exploration up to 1550.
• 18M.3op4.HL.TZ0.9:

  “Religion was the most important motive for the Portuguese voyages of discovery.” Discuss.

• 20N.3op4.HL.TZ0.9: “The main reason for exploration was a desire to open trade routes for luxury goods.” Discuss.
• 21N.3op4.HL.TZ0.9: “The quest for knowledge was the main motive for exploration in the 15th century.” Discuss.
• 22M.3op4.HL.TZ0.9: To what extent were national and personal rivalries the main motives for exploration in the 15th...

Enablers of exploration: patronage, including role and significance of Henry the Navigator; developments in shipbuilding, cartography and navigation

• 17M.3op4.HL.TZ0.9: “Developments in cartography and navigation were the main factors that enabled Spanish and...
• 18N.3op4.HL.TZ0.9: “Patronage was the main reason for Portuguese exploration of the west coast of Africa.” Discuss
• 19M.3op4.HL.TZ0.9: Discuss the significance of Henry the Navigator as an enabler in the Age of Exploration.

Portuguese exploration of the west coast of Africa: significance; consequences

• 19N.3op4.HL.TZ0.9: Discuss the significance for Portugal of its exploration of the west coast of Africa.
• 21M.3op4.HL.TZ0.9: Examine the consequences of Portuguese exploration of the west coast of Africa for European states.

Exploration and the New World: significance; consequences

• 19N.3op4.HL.TZ0.10: Evaluate the consequences of the exploration of the New World for Europe.

Exploration and the Indian Ocean: significance; consequences

• 18N.3op4.HL.TZ0.10: Discuss the economic impact on Europe of the exploration of the Indian Ocean.
• 20N.3op4.HL.TZ0.10: Discuss the consequences for European states of the exploration of the Indian Ocean.

The significance and impact of the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

• 17M.3op4.HL.TZ0.10:

  Evaluate the impact of the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) on Europe.

• 19M.3op4.HL.TZ0.10:

  “The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) was of limited significance.” Discuss.

• 21N.3op4.HL.TZ0.10:

  Examine the impact of the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) in reducing political conflicts in Europe.

Impact on Europe to 1550: economic impact on Europe; the “Columbian Exchange”

• 17N.3op4.HL.TZ0.10: Evaluate the economic impact on Europe of the voyages of exploration.
• 18M.3op4.HL.TZ0.10: With reference to the period up to 1550, evaluate the economic impact on Europe of the voyages of...
• 21M.3op4.HL.TZ0.10: “The impact of the ‘Columbian Exchange’ on Europe was positive.” To what extent do you agree with...
• 22M.3op4.HL.TZ0.10: Examine the economic impact on Europe of the exploration of the New World.