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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Feb 17, 2003 by History Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
This tutorial, created by The Applied History Research Group at The University
of Calgary, provides an introduction to Portuguese and Spanish maritime
expansion of the fifteenth and sixteenth century. In addition to reviewing the
course of that expansion, the tutorial also looks at the geographical,
technological, economic, political, and cultural context in which it occurred. |
| Learning Goals: |
To narrate the history of early Portuguese and Spanish maritime ventures.
To "explain some of the issues surrounding the early years of European exploration."
To identify the motivations, actions, and effects of Iberian expansion during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
To present an Iberian perspective (as opposed to an English or French one)for exploration and colonization. |
| Target Student Population: |
The tutorial is probably best suited to an advanced high school class or
introductory level college students. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
No special skills or knowledge is presumed. The tutorial is clearly presented as
a first introduction to the subject. |
| Type of Material: |
Though accompanied by well designed maps (some of which feature animation),
illustrations, and a few brief excerpts from documents, this tutorial presents
an account of Iberian maritime expansion largely in straight forward narrative
terms. Along with a general introduction, there are major sections on
Pre-expansion Iberia, Portugal, Spain, the Knowledge and Power gained by
Europeans, and Conclusions (here meaning effects): other links lead to lesser
sections key Iberian leaders and the various parts of the world affected by
Iberian expansion. |
| Recommended Uses: |
The tutorial would provide a good supplement to students taking introductory
surveys of European,
Early American, or World History. The information offered
differs little from those given in standard texts, but it is presented in an
attractive and competent online format. |
| Technical Requirements: |
Nothing special is required to use it. The tutorial is optimized for 800 x 600
display and is said to be best viewed with Netscape 3.0 or higher or
Microsoft's Internet Explorer in order to allow the animations to function
best. Macromedia Flash 4.0 is recommended. |
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| Strengths: |
This tutorial does a very good job of conveying the basic story of early
Iberian maritime expansion to students at an introductory level. For students unfamiliar with the history of Spain and Portugal, background information is provided about the economy, social class system, geography, and history. Genealogical charts on the Avis dynasty of Portugal and the Kings of Aragon offer material not usually available in a survey text on United States history or Western Civilization. Motivation for exploration is linked to the impact of the Crusades conducted over several centuries. Each section introduces words and phrases common in the history of Spain and Portugal but not as familiar to many students. These words and phrases are defined in an easy to understand format. |
| Concerns: |
Despite efforts to include notice of African and Indian trade systems and the
Ming Chinese voyages into the Indian Ocean in the 1440s, the tutorial largely
views Iberian expansion from Western European perspectives. Because prior
achievements of Vikings, Arabs, and other sea-going peoples currently attracting
attention are ignored, the Portuguese and Spanish voyagers are deemed
"pioneers" engaged in "explorations," though they were often late-comers to
areas well-explored and known to others. And little effort is made to view them
through the eyes of other peoples at the time. Therefore, the potential cultural bias should be discussed with students. |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
Rating:    |
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| Strengths: |
This material provides students with an good traditional Western overview of
Iberian expansion at a very basic level. And although it does not delve deeply
into more controversial issues or present much in the way of differing opinions,
it does note some of the questions current among Iberian and European scholars. This offers educators the opportunity to expand classroom discussion by noting the perspective and bringing in alternative viewpoints with the use of other web sites or supplemental readings. Because the site links exploration to Asia,
Africa, and Pre-Columbian civilizations, educators are offered a varied of ways to expand the use of the site into additional avenues of discussion. |
| Concerns: |
A more questioning approach that presents evidence and asks students to work
toward conclusions of their own would make this material more useful even at the
introductory level. The site fails to use primary documents effectively, which would make this site a more effective teaching tool. A bibliography is offered but it does not include references from all perspectives for the topic of research. The approach here tends to strengthen the idea that history is a matter of laying out facts and dates rather than presenting a set of stories to be interpreted. The burden of interpretation is given to the instructor. |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
This site is very well organized. Sub-topics are accessed through a logical set
of clearly labeled links on the home page and at the top of other pages. Along
with a general site map and a page of tutorial directions, these guide the user
from the most general to the more detailed subjects, generally along a
chronological path. The colorful and occassionally animated maps are helpful. The site makes effective use of contemporary paintings and illustrations.
At the end of end page or section, the site offered a Britannica Search icon. |
| Concerns: |
Generally the site is easy to navigate. However, the link to the Catholic Enclycopedia did not allow a return to the site. Links for Cabral as the King's Voyager and the Chamorros did not work. |
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
The title of the tutorial, The European Voyages of Exploration, suggests a much
broader topic than is the case in one sense, as only Portuguese and Spanish
voyages are featured in it. But, in another sense, this title is too narrow,
because the tutorial also deals with background subjects such as European Ways
of War,
Trade: Sugar and Slaves, Communication with natives, etc. that extend
its coverage into larger issues of imperialism, colonialism, and
globalization. The site might be viewed as attempting to do too much, educators are free to manipulate chunks of information for classroom and student use.
It would be helpful to have a way to contact the authors of the site. |
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