Voyages and discoveries - class-V

Encomienda was a Spanish labor system. It was applied on a much larger scale during the Spanish colonization of the Americas and the Philippines. Under this system, labors were traded for specific work in plantations, ranches, and mining.

Portuguese explorer and navigator Vasco de Gama discovered a new sea route to India in 1498. Vasco de Gama is regarded as the first European to reach India by sea. He crossed Cape of Good Hope (Africa) and reached Calicut (Kozhikode) in Malabar Coast (Kerala) where he met the King of Calicut, Zamorin who welcomed him graciously.

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire until it was conquered by Ottoman Empire. It used to be the prime route for the Europe that allowed the trade of spice and other commodities from India and China. Its fall caused the loss in spice trade due to which the European sailors went on to discover an alternate sea route.

The invention of Mariner's compass was a significant one. It is an instrument meant to know directions. Its needle always points to the north.

Cathay, the name by which North China was known in medieval Europe. The word is derived from Khitay (or Khitan), the name of seminomadic people who left southeastern Mongolia in the 10th-century CE to conquer part of Manchuria and northern China, which they held for about 200 years. By the time of Genghis Khan (died 1227), the Mongols had begun referring to North China as Kitai and South China as Mangi. Kitai is still the Russian word for China.

Portuguese explorer Prince Henry, also known as the Navigator, was the first European to methodically explore Africa and the oceanic route to the Indies. From his residence in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, he directed successive expeditions to circumnavigate Africa and reach India.

Prince Henry, a Portuguese made great efforts in this direction. Hence, he was known as Henry the Navigator. He started a school for navigators and encouraged extensive exploration.  The sailors were taught how to make use of Mariner's compass and the astrolabe. 

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire until it was conquered by Ottoman Empire. It used to be the prime route for the Europe that allowed the trade of spice and other commodities from India and China. Its fall caused the loss in spice trade due to which the European sailors went on to discover an alternate sea route.

The Venetian traveler Marco Polo, as well as his father and uncle, traveled to China during the period of Mongol rule in the 13th century. Basically he was a merchant.

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama discovered a sea route to India in 1497-1498. Actually, an unnamed Indian navigator he hired in Kenya directed the journey from the east coast of Africa to what is now Kozhikode, India.

On May 20, 1498, sailing for the Portuguese crown, Vasco da Gama reached Calicut, India. Having successfully sailed around the southern tip of Africa, da Gama had pioneered a sea route from Europe to Asia that bypassed the Muslim nations that controlled the overland spice trade.

Christopher Columbus was the first to sail across the Atlantic Ocean in 1472 with three ships and 88 crew members. He reached America on 11th October 1492 after great difficulties. This was the most significant discovery of Columbus and it came to be known as 'The New World.'

Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic ocean in 1472. He did four trips across the Atlantic ocean and discovered America. He was determined to find the sea route form Europe to Asia, but he never could. 

The Cape of Good Hope is a headland on the Atlantic coast side of South
Africa. It is known for its spectacular scenery. It was originally named
the Cape of Storms by Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Dias in 1488. It
was later renamed, by King John II of Portugal, the Cape of Good Hope
because of the great optimism engendered by the opening of a sea route
to India and the East.

He was the first to sail across the Atlantic ocean in 1472 with three ships- the Nina, the Santa-Maria and the Pinta with 88 crew members. 

Hernan Cortes led the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire and the colonization of Mexico.

The fleet of  Portuguese under the leadership of Vasco da Gama landed Calicut, in 1498. There the King of Calicut, the Samudiri received them with traditional hospitality and a grand procession.

Portuguese were the first to discover a direct sea route to India from Europe via Atlantic Ocean. The voyage was undertaken by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama who on May 17, 1498, landed in near Calicut in Kerala.

Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea. He was born in 1460 in the town of Sines in Portugal.

 Constantinople was capital of the Eastern Roman Empire which was conquered by the Ottoman Army, under the command Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II on 29th May 1453. 

Before 15th century, the Canary Islands were occupied by the Spain. The Portuguese registered their presence in 15th century when in 1341 the king of Portugal sent a military expedition to the islands. By the end of the 15th century the Canary Islands already contained a considerable Portuguese population.

Prince Henry is considered to be the driving force behind the maritime exploration carried out by the Portuguese. His sailors discovered the Madeira and Azores Islands of Atlantic Ocean in 1420 and 1427 respectively. The Portuguese cultivated wheat and sugarcane which provided enormous wealth.

Bartholomew Diaz was a nobleman and explorer of the Portuguese royal household. He was the first person to sail around the southernmost tip of Africa in 1488. This exploration led to the setting up the route from Europe to Asia.

Before the arrival of European powers, Arab traders dominated the spice trade routes between the East and the Mediterranean.

The fall of Constantinople occurred between 6th April and 29th May 1453. Ottoman Empire attacked the Byzantine Empire and fought for 53 days. In the present day, it is known as Istanbul.

Christopher Columbus had three ships on his first voyage, the Niña, the Pinta, and Santa Maria. Columbus sailed on 3 August 1492 and was accompanied by 88 men . There were 21 on the Nina, 26 on the Pinta, and 41 on the Santa María.

During his second voyage to India, Vasco da Gama established a fortified trading post in Kannur (Cannanore).

Vasco da Gama is historically criticized for his brutal treatment of local populations during his voyages, earning him a reputation for cruelty.

The fleet of Vasco-da-Gama arrived  Calicut, (present-day the Kerala state of India), on 20 May 1498. There the King of Calicut, the Samudiri received him with traditional hospitality, including a grand procession.