Portuguese maritime exploration

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/portuguese-maritime-exploration

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Portuguese maritime exploration?Attributed to Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500
2. What is the primary period of exploration?15th and 16th centuries
3. What is the key sponsor of early expeditions?Prince Henry the Navigator, initiating methodical exploration from 1419
4. What was the caravel and why was it important?The caravel was a special ship that could sail against the wind and handle rough seas. It let Portuguese explorers travel farther and more safely than before.
5. Who was Prince Henry the Navigator and what did he do?Prince Henry the Navigator was a Portuguese prince who set up a court at Sagres. He helped study maps, stars, and ships to plan long voyages.

Vanguard of European Exploration: The leading nation or group in initiating and conducting new discoveries and voyages.
Age of Discovery: A historical period, primarily 15th to 17th centuries, marked by extensive European overseas exploration and mapping.
Maritime Routes: Established sea lanes or pathways utilized for navigation and trade between different geographical locations.
East Indies: A historical geographical term referring to the regions of South and Southeast Asia explored by Europeans.