1.2

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 2

5. The Time of Discoverers and Reformers

Lesson 2. Discovery and Conquest (1)

5. 

The Time of 

Discoverers and Reformers

Lesson 1.2: The start of the Age of Discovery

Do you know any explorers from
the 15th / 16th century?

people in this lesson

Marco Polo

Bartholomeu Dias

Vasco da Gama

Then

Now

India

China

Indonesia

The Americas

East Indies

West Indies

India

Now

East Indies

West Indies

India

2a. Link the names of these Asian products to the correct image

cinnamon

pepper

nutmeg

silk

cloves

In search of spices 

The known world around 1500

What triggered the Age of Discoveries 

in the 15th century?

1. The Renaissance: more (Greek) knowledge of geography became available in Europe.
2. The Ottoman conquest of Constantinople (1453): This was an important city where the trade routes between Asia and Europe crossed. The Turks taxed the trade goods coming from the East Indies so they became very expensive in Europe.

The Turkish taxes triggered European countries to try to find a DIFFERENT sea route to the East Indies.

Especially Portugal and Spain sent out explorers to find this route and take the spices themselves (and avoid the Turkish taxes....)