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Technological Innovations from 1450 to 1750 CE

Driving Question: How did cross-cultural interactions facilitate innovations in technology and how did these ideas impact exploration and trade?

From cartography to gunpowder to astronomy, European exploration would never have been possible without the scientific developments, technology, and extensive trade networks between the people of Afro-Eurasia. In this lesson, you will consider how centuries of knowledge came together to initiate the dawn of the First Global Age.

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain how cross-cultural interactions resulted in the diffusion of technology and facilitated changes in patterns of trade and travel from 1450 to 1750 CE.
  2. Analyze primary sources to evaluate how innovations in technology impacted exploration and trade from c. 1450 to 1750 CE.

Vocab Terms:

  • astrolabe
  • caravel
  • carrack
  • compass
  • innovation
  • lateen sail
STEP 1

Opener: Technological Innovations

STEP 2

Technology in the Age of Exploration

As a kid, did you ever look out at the ocean and wonder what was on the other side? Although we have a million ways to know now, imagine what it was like being on the cusp of first finding out! What would you look for? What would you hope to find?

STEP 3

Source Collection: Trade and Technology

STEP 4

Closer: Technological Innovation

So what did you learn? How did cross-cultural interactions facilitate innovations in technology and how did these ideas impact exploration and trade?