Search Results: Maritime exploration

One of the major motivating factors in the European Age of Exploration was the search for direct access to the highly lucrative Eastern spice trade. In the 15th century, spices came to Europe via the Middle East land and sea routes, and spices...

This lesson plan has two parts. During the first part, students will watch a video introducing the Phoenicians and answer the questions on Worksheet #1. In the second part, students will participate in a trading simulation activity which...

The French exploration of New Zealand has been overshadowed by the achievements of British navigator Captain James Cook (1728-1779), but French navigators who visited Aotearoa's (New Zealand) shores named over 100 geographical places and...

The Portuguese built an empire from 1420 onwards that was largely composed of trade centres dotted around the coasts of three continents. This colonial enterprise was driven by a search for African gold, Asian spices, and Christian kingdoms...

Prince Henry the Navigator (aka Infante Dom Henrique, 1394-1460) was a Portuguese prince who famously helped capture the North African city of Ceuta, sponsored voyages of exploration with the aim of building colonies in the North Atlantic...

The caravel (caravela in Spanish and Portuguese), was a type of medium-sized ship which, with its low draught and lateen or triangular sails, made it ideal for exploration from the 15th century onwards. Fast, manoeuvrable, and only needing...

Ancient peoples were as curious as ourselves about the wider world and even if the transport at their disposal meant travel could be long, arduous and dangerous, they still managed to get about and visit different cities, sacred sites and...

The Maritime Theatre at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli (Italy) was a complex with 35 room built on a circular island surrounded by a moat. It is generally thought to have been dedicated to Hadrian’s personal use.

A map illustrating the rise of Spain into a global colonial and trading power following the European Age of Exploration of the 15th Century.

A map illustrating the evolution of Portugal into a global colonial power following the period of European exploration of the 15th century. Portugal’s colonial Empire began in the fifteenth century, with the kings of Portugal seeking trade...