AP European History Flashcards: Technological Advances and the Age of Exploration
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What were the primary economic motivations for European states to explore from 1450-1648?
European states sought direct access to resources like gold, spices, and luxury goods in order to enhance both personal wealth and state power.
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What were the primary economic motivations for European states to explore from 1450-1648?
European states sought direct access to resources like gold, spices, and luxury goods in order to enhance both personal wealth and state power.
Why was acquiring colonies essential for a state practicing mercantilism?
Colonies were essential because they provided direct access to valuable goods and raw materials, enhancing state power and wealth without relying on foreign trade routes.
Besides personal wealth, what was a key political goal for European states seeking gold and spices?
Beyond individual riches, acquiring direct access to gold, spices, and luxury goods was a way to enhance overall state power and influence.
What is cartography and why was it critical for the Age of Exploration?
Cartography is the science of map-making. Advances in this field created more accurate maps and charts, which made long-distance sea voyages possible and more reliable.
What dual role did Christianity play in the Age of Exploration?
Christianity acted as a stimulus for exploration, with a goal of spreading the faith, and also served as a justification for the subjugation of indigenous civilizations.
Define mercantilism in the context of European exploration.
Mercantilism was an economic system where the state actively promoted commercial development and the acquisition of overseas colonies to increase its wealth and power.
What new role did the state assume under the rise of mercantilism?
Under mercantilism, the state took on a new, active role in promoting commercial development and prioritizing the acquisition of colonies overseas.
How was religion used to justify the actions of European explorers and conquerors?
Some Europeans used the goal of spreading Christianity as a moral and religious justification for conquering and subjugating indigenous civilizations.
What were the three key areas of technological advancement that enabled European exploration?
The key technological advancements that facilitated European exploration were in navigation, cartography (map-making), and military technology.
How did technological advances directly lead to the establishment of European empires?
Advances in navigation and cartography allowed Europeans to reach distant lands, while superior military technology enabled them to conquer and establish overseas colonies and empires.
What were the main effects of European exploration and expansion from 1450 to 1648?
The primary effects were the establishment of European overseas colonies and empires, enabled by technological superiority and driven by economic and religious motives.