Question

The Arab tradition of the Green Sea of Night had too strongly taken hold of Christian thought to be easily shaken off.And it was beyond the Cape which bounded their knowledge that the Saracen geographers had fringed the coast ofAfrica with sea-monsters and serpent rocks and water unicorns, instead of place names, and had drawn the horriblegiant hand of Satan raised above the waves to seize the first of his human prey that would venture into his den. If Godmade the firm earth, the Devil made the unknown and treacherous ocean-this was the real lesson of most of themedieval maps, and it was this ingrained superstition that Henry found his worst enemy, appearing as it didsometimes even in his most trusted and daring captains.in one to three sentences, describe some of the possible rewards from the voyages that the Portuguese made during this time.​

In the given passage about medieval maps and superstitions, what was the real lesson conveyed by most medieval maps regarding the ocean?
a) The ocean was created by God.
b) The ocean was a treacherous and unknown territory created by the Devil.
c) The ocean was filled with sea-monsters and serpent rocks.
d) The ocean was a safe and predictable environment.

Answer 1

The Portuguese voyages offered economic gains from trade in spices, silks, and African resources, religious fulfillment in finding Prester John's kingdom, and strategic alliances against Islam. The real lesson of medieval maps was that the ocean was a dangerous and unknown realm, possibly created by the Devil.

Step-by-step explanation:

The possible rewards from the Portuguese voyages during the medieval era were multi-faceted. The expeditions aimed at finding a sole water route to the East for importing lucrative items like spices, silks, and cottons at lower costs, as they were expensive due to Arab middlemen on overland routes. Additionally, the Portuguese sought to gain access to Africa's wealth, which included gold, ivory, palm oil, and the opportunity to engage in the slave trade. They were also motivated by religious purposes, such as searching for the mythical Christian kingdom of Prester John to form an alliance against Islam.In response to the question about the lesson conveyed by most medieval maps regarding the ocean, the correct answer is b) The ocean was a treacherous and unknown territory created by the Devil. Maps of the era, influenced by superstitions, often depicted the sea as a domain of horrific creatures and diabolical forces, reinforcing the perception of the ocean as a realm of danger and the unknown.