Question
Evaluate the ways in which increased wealth and secularization led to the growth of Western expansion and exploration.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to appraise the ways by which wealth and secularization contributed to Western expansion and exploration. These methods should not simply be accounted for, but ordered with the aim of reaching a substantiated judgment as to their individual and/or collective importance.
Indicative content
• The new secular spirit, as seen in the Renaissance, focused on inquiry, science, technology and the ability of man to explore and understand the physical world. The focus on experimentation, the recovery of ancient knowledge and ideas aided the process of expanding the boundaries of the known world.
• Individuals, such as Henry the Navigator, as well as others were anxious to use new knowledge and technical advances to explore unknown regions.
• Man at this time was more inquisitive about, and confident of his ability to, master the physical world.
• There was less focus on the spiritual and resources previously devoted to the support of the Church were moving to more secular pursuits such a personal profit or greater state power.
• Increased wealth was also critical as the movement required extensive financial support. This support was possible due to the rising wealth of the European commercial classes who could fund these voyages in order to further their profits.
• In addition, new states such as Spain and Portugal could fund voyages. A number of explorers such as Cabot were funded by merchant guilds anxious to find new products and profits.
Question
Examine the contribution to exploration of Ibn Majid (dc1500) and Piri Reis (d1554).
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to consider the contribution of both Ibn Majid and Piri Reis to exploration during the period from 1400 until 1550. Candidates may adopt a comparative approach or they may identify themes and address the significance of both men in this context; however, there is no prescribed approach to this question.
Indicative content
Piri Reis
• Piri Reis was an important contributor to exploration as a cartographer, geographer and expert on navigation and nautical science.
• His Book of Navigation was an in-depth manual on the techniques and principles of navigation as well as a detailed set of maps and charts of the Mediterranean Sea.
• He produced a number of world maps, the earliest in 1513 , which introduced the New World to the Ottoman Empire
• His research techniques, which incorporated a wide range of sources both old and new, were in the tradition of Muslim scholarship and he provided important knowledge for the use of seamen, explorers and merchants.
• He was also a geographer who wrote extensive material on the countries, cities, regions and cultures of all the territories surrounding the Mediterranean. This was invaluable to many individuals engaged in trade, exploration and settlement.
Ibn Majd
• Ibn Majd was the leading marine scientist and oceanographer of the 15th century Islamic world. He wrote the authoritative Book of Useful Information on Principles and Rules of Navigation. This book became the key resource for Islamic sailors and allowed them to master navigation on the Persian Gulf, African coast and the Indian Ocean.
• Islamic sailors were able to travel greater distances to the east, expand their knowledge of Asia, develop trade routes and improve all their maritime skills.
• He was respected so much as a navigator and oceanographer that he was recruited by Vasco da Gama to navigate for his voyage to India.
• His work was the foundation for marine science for centuries and aided generations of explorers, traders and travellers especially in the east.
Question
Compare and contrast Spanish and Portuguese motives for exploration up to 1550.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
The question requires that candidates give an account of similarities and differences between Spanish and Portuguese motives for exploration overseas, referring to both countries throughout the response. There are several motives that may be considered, for example, religious motives, economic motives, the desire to increase political power and/or the desire of individuals for fame. Religious motives were common to both countries but the level of its significance varied. Both were motivated by the search for wealth, as both lacked resources such as gold and silver. Both countries, wanted to increase the status of their nations, particularly Portugal because of its size and lack of power. A key difference might be the role of individuals: in Portugal, Henry the Navigator sought fame and encouraged exploration whereas in Spain it was the monarchy that motivated exploration. There does not have to be a balance in the number of similarities and differences.
Question
Evaluate the economic impact on Europe of the voyages of exploration.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the economic impact the voyages of exploration had on Europe. Candidates may focus on the voyages of one or more countries and they may suggest that the impact was largely positive, largely negative or somewhere between. Areas to consider may include the impact of new sources of bullion, the influx of which contributed to inflation in many parts of Europe throughout the first half of the 16th century and had a substantial impact on the living standards of many social groups. There may also be consideration of changing trade patterns within the continent due to the arrival of new raw materials. Some candidates may argue that there was a rise in entrepreneurial activity, as traders sought to capitalize from access to goods that were not subject to the tariffs of the overland routes from Asia and through the Middle East.