1.) What led the Portuguese and the Spanish empires to shift from land-based travel to sea travel? What advancements led to an increase in sea travel? What factors led Portugal in particular to quickly become a sea power? 2.) What treaty insured peace between Spain and Portugal in their fight for territory in the Americas? Why did Spain inadvertently gain more land as a consequence of this treaty? 4.) Colonialism and the expansion of the trade routes had what two political effects on countries?
5.) How did the invention of the sternpost rudder positively impact sea exploration? How did Europeans gain access to this technology? How did the invention of the lateen sails positively impact sea exploration? How did the invention of the astrolabe positively impact sea exploration?
6.) How did the invention of the magnetic compass positively impact sea exploration? How did Europeans gain access to this technology? How did the invention of the three-masted caravel ship lead to longer sea voyages?
7.) In the late fifteenth century, what factors led Europe to acquire new technology and dominate other parts of the world?
10.) How did the Aztecs treat the neighboring communities around them? How did the Spanish take advantage of the strained relationship that existed between the Aztecs and the neighboring communities around them?
11.) How did Montezuma and the Aztecs react when they first encountered the Cortes and the Spanish? How did Cortes and the Spanish react when they saw all of the gold Montezuma offered?
12.) What were some of the factors that led the Spanish to be victorious over the Aztecs? Of all of the previous factors, which one had the most devastating effect on the Aztecs? How many Aztecs died between 1520 AD and 1580 AD?
13.) How was the conquest of the Inca Empire in South America similar to the conquest of the Aztec Empire in Mexico?
14.) How was the conquest of the Americas by the Spanish different from how other previous empire builders (Macedonians, Romans, Muslims, and Mongols) built their empires?