Factors Which Stimulated Atlantic Maritime Exploration in 15th Century

1. Why did Europeans embark on exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries and how were they able to do it? Include the rise of nations, technology and motivations.

During the 15th and 16th century, exploration became the new norm of society. Each individual country had their own motives, reasons and goals regarding voyages across land and sea. For instance, Christopher Columbus, in the name of Spain, voyaged out to find an alternative route to Asia. The Portuguese, tried to increase their knowledge about trading. Moreover, while some traveled to increase their powers, Zheng He, of China, traveled to discover raw resources and generate more capital into China’s economy. If we compare the maritime policies of the kingdom of Spain and Portugal on the one hand and the Ming Empire on the other the differences in motives clearly outweigh the similarities between these two societies. For example, the Kingdoms of Spain and Portugal traveled to spread Christianity, to gain land, to rule over new subjects and to spread their power throughout the different continents, while as the Ming Dynasty was only interested in capital and new/raw resources.

With the inventions of more efficient ships and the perfection of navigational instruments, the Spanish (as well as England and France) gained a curiosity to explore and find a way to Asia by water and

Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, European exploration and expansion thrived. Portugal led the way in this movement of exploration with their development of efficiently built ships known as caravels, seafaring devices such as compasses and astrolabes, and cutting-edge naval academies. Various European countries, including Spain, England, France, etc., followed Portugal’s example by utilizing their progressive naval technology. These technological advancements led to the crossing of oceans and eventually the circumnavigation of the world. These Portuguese sailing techniques were implemented by explorers such as Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, Hernando Cortes, Francisco Pizarro, and Bernal Castillo allowing them to travel by sea to places such as Africa, East Asia, the Caribbean, and the Americas. These nations and explorers were persuaded to put in the time and effort to complete these complex expeditions by three essential motivations. Financial gain, political dignity, and religious expansion were fundamental motivators for the European Age of Exploration.

Though, Columbus’s voyage was unsuccessful, it created a fluctuation of quest throughout the other European superpowers to find a trade route to India. Similar to Spain, France had an Italian merchant Giovanni Verrazano.In addition, England hired an Italian merchant John Cabot. After the Italian merchant voyage to find India's route route fail the motivation for wealth gradually grows,though Spain differs due to motivate of glory and God. Therefore, it is elucidated that finding a trade route to India through hiring Italian merchants were similar factors in the motivations between the major European superpowers there are differences lay in their individual methods for abstracting

People living the the 15th century had multiple reasons for venturing beyond its confinement of land. Scientific curiosity of the world played a major part in the advancement of naval travel, but it was not the main cause of exploration in these times. The Age of Exploration was sparked by Europeans wanting to find sea routes to East Asia, which they called the Indies. Merchants and crusaders were bringing goods to Europe from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. These trade routes were controlled by the Muslims and the Italians. However, flaws

European nations in the 15th century began exploring new lands with three motives: religion, wealth, and glory. It was made possible by advances in naval fleet building and navigation, first pioneered by the Portuguese. Europeans began to be involved in extensive exploration, coming in contact with Africa, Americas and their prime target Asia. The main targets of the pioneering Portugese and Spanish was to find and alternate trade route for the Indies trade and also promote Christianity to the new lands. As the century unfolded, the search for newer territories to colonize and shortern routes to the exotic land of spices and silk became the initial driving force for the intensive early exploration by the Europeans .

The desire for new trade routes by the Europeans was one reason the Age of Exploration began. In Document 1 it is written that the Europeans were afraid of the Ottoman Empire due to their rapid expansion and powerful military. This shows that Europe was afraid to challenge them and they were pushed to expand and find other trade routes. Document 2 depicts the power the Ottoman had and the control they held over Mediterranean Sea trade, therefore preventing the Safavid and Europeans from trading. Because of this, Europe

- Because Spain and Portugal were rivals, they were always trying to out beat each other. Since the Portuguese set up trading posts in Africa first, other European countries started and later on Spain set up posts too. Because the Portuguese didn’t like taking water routes, it took them longer to get to India through land to get spices and jewels. While this was happening, the Spanish people became unified and seeing that they were now stronger, planned to outstrip their rivals of the Indian

Henry Prince is the main character who participated and promoted the exploration of Portuguese and the Re-Conquest. After driving the Muslims out of the nation, the people of Portuguese and Spain could charge better prices for their trade and business. Next, they discovered the Cape of Good Hope Route which they used to bring goods to the city much faster. The discovery of such trade routes broke the monopoly that the Italians had established over trade in the country.

The Genoese and Venetians held the role of middlemen in Mediterranean trade, abhorred by the Kingdoms of Iberia for their incredible markups. Genoa received Asian goods through Constantinople, and the Venetians received the treasures of the Indian Ocean through Egypt. Constantly competing with one another, the two city-states would increases prices on goods, impacting Portuguese, Spanish, French, Dutch, and British trade, five nations that played dominant roles in New World colonization. The Iberian seafaring nations hoped to sail directly to the Indian Ocean and avoid this middleman. The Portuguese in particular were determined to find the “River of Gold,” a river in the Ghana Empire where the gold trade thrived. As written by the Portuguese explorer Duarte Pacheco Pereira, “so much gold and other rich merchandise would be found as would maintain the King and people of these realms of Portugal in plenty.” As the Portuguese made financial gains in Africa, the Castilians hoped to reach the Spice Islands by funding Christopher Columbus’ journey. After the discovery of the new world, other Europeans nations began to colonize the Americas in search of any goods that would result in profit. International trade was the key to wealth, and the competition to monopolize merchandise fostered an environment in which

The Eastern and Western passages to find the Orient set a wave of exploration that helped with the formation of America. The Portuguese were one of the only ones that still believed the eastern route was still a passage to India. Prince Henry the Navigator down the western coast of Africa led the Portuguese search. They were searching for a dramatic left turn at the bottom of Africa. After many failures, they found the turn. When Vasco Da Gama made it to India, its success made Portugal the wealthiest nation in the sixteenth and seven-teethed centuries.

One of the main reasons European Exploration started snowballing is the fall of Constantinople. This reason itself is why European Exploration began. The Ottomans controlled all the sea trade in the eastern Mediterranean, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and the rest of North Africa, and the power extended into Europe also. After the fall of the great Ottoman Empire it had sparked curiosity into European explorers to discover new sea routes, lands, and territories. They were preparing for this moment and they took full advantage of it, and that was starting with Portugal. In “Document 3” the map describes “A map of exploration routes coming from Portugal. Rulers of Portugal began to fund voyages of exploration under the rule of Prince Henry, ‘The Navigator’ a nickname earned for his interest in new navigation technologies he brought to Europe from the Arab world.” In the map it had presented the new sea routes around the southernmost tip of Africa because they were attempting to find new routes to Asia. If the fall of Constantinople never happened and they remained with their power, the exploration would have never started up. Europe still would’ve been isolated in the Dark Ages with poverty, death, and overall a corrupt

The main motivation of European exploration was economic motives. People were beginning to become more interested in traveling by sea to reach Asia and Africa and all their riches(Duiker,494). The spice trade was what linked Europe to Asia, and the gold trade linked Europe to Africa. Furthermore, in the 15th and 16th centuries, as the economy and purchasing power of Europe developed and increased, the spice demand grew at a steady rate(Arnold,12). Therefore, spices were one of the few things that made overseas trade possible. Europe did not have very much gold to begin with, so ultimately the gold mines that they did possess were emptied. After 1400, Europe started trading with the areas that produced gold, increasing their amount of gold. Gold was very important to Europe, because not only was it used for decorations, but also their currency. In 1500, Portugal was controlling the flow of gold to Europe, making Portugal much wealthier(Buckler,500). Eventually, slaves were included in the gold

India also traded gold, silver and jewels. Several countries wanted these various types of riches. Before the new route to India was discovered all these products were coming back to Europe through one single trade route,however, this trade route had only one way to travel from Europe to India was over land. This was a very long and expensive route. When Vasco Da Gama discovered the trade route from Asia to Europe it effected several countries. He become rich and benefited the creation of the primary European trading empire. Vasco Da Gama influenced the society in trade . Only portuguese ships and Portuguese merchants in Europe could sell spices,gold and cloth produced in India and that is how Portugal became the center of sea trade and controlled the sea route between Asia and