ReCall – Sri Lanka and the Western World – Arrival of the Portuguese in Asia

 

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#1. By the 11th century, a revival of _________ in Europe, particularly around the Mediterranean Sea, created a demand for Eastern goods.

Explanation: The text explicitly states, “By the 11th century, trade was booming again in Europe, particularly around the Mediterranean Sea.” This economic revival was the primary driver for looking east.

#2. European merchants were eager to find new sources of valuable Eastern goods like silks, porcelain, and especially _________.

Explanation: The source text lists the goods sought by European merchants, including “valuable goods like spices, silks, and porcelain.” Spices were a particularly high-value commodity.

#3. Sri Lanka became a prime target for European ambitions due to its valuable resources and its long history of participation in _________.

Explanation: The text identifies why Sri Lanka was a “Strategic Prize,” citing its “long history of Indian Ocean trade and its valuable resources.”

#4. Initially, European powers like the Portuguese focused on establishing _________ in Sri Lanka, but their ambitions grew over time.

Explanation: The text describes the initial phase of interaction: “Initially, European powers like the Portuguese focused on establishing trading relationships in Sri Lanka.” This gradually transformed into attempts at political dominance.

#5. The text emphasizes that Sri Lanka was not a passive bystander in its encounter with the West, as its rulers and people actively _________ European encroachment.

Explanation: The source text makes a clear point about the island’s response: “Sri Lanka was not a passive player… The island’s rulers and people actively resisted European encroachment,” continuing a long tradition of resisting foreign powers.

#6. Resistance to European powers took many forms, including armed rebellions, strategic alliances, and _________.

Explanation: The source text lists the “many forms” of resistance, which included “diplomatic maneuvers and strategic alliances to outright armed rebellions.”

#7. European powers often masked their true intentions of controlling resources by using justifications like bringing “civilization” or spreading _________.

Explanation: The text points out the “European Justifications” used to “mask their true intentions,” such as “spreading Christianity or bringing ‘civilization’.” This created a clash of interests.

#8. The encounter between Sri Lanka and the West during this period had a profound and lasting impact on the island’s political, economic, and _________ landscape.

Explanation: The text summarizes the “Lasting Consequences” of this historical encounter, stating it shaped the island’s “political, economic, and cultural landscape,” and that understanding this history offers valuable lessons.

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