Read the following from The Age of Reconnaissance, J. H. Parry:
Introduction (1-16)
Chapter 1 (19-37)
Conclusion (321-327)
Write a five to seven page paper about the origins and motives of the Age of Discovery. This essay needs to address the following questions:
From the Introduction:
The mid-fifteenth through the late-seventeenth century is commonly called the Age of Discovery. Why?
What was the intellectual temper of the sixteenth century? What impact did this have on science?
What was the relationship between science and technology? Why was it this way?
What does the author call this time period? Why?
Compare and contrast the travel writings of Marco Polo with Sir John Mandeville.
What were the characteristics of the mappae-mundi? How did Roger Bacons ideas differ from this tradition?
Who is Pierre dAilly? What is significant about Pierre dAillys Imago Mundi?
During the period of the Reconnaissance how did educated men view the works of the ancients? Why?
Who is Claudius Ptolemy? What is significant about his Geography?
How did the Reconnaissance lead to advances in science and technology?
From Chapter 1:
What were the two obvious, universal, and admitted motives of European exploration?
Who is Prince Henry? What role did he play in the expansion of exploration?
What inspired and encouraged Europeans (mostly Portuguese and Spaniards) to explore the world?
What were the forms of religious zeal that appealed to the explorers and those who sent them out?
What role did a crusading mentality and reconquest in Spain play in exploration?
What was another important motivator?
What were Prince Henrys motives?
From the Conclusion:
What had been the principle object of European exploration?
What happened in the later seventeenth century? How was it different from the sixteenth century?
What did exploration look like in the eighteenth century? What was the role of science?
