In the early 1400’s Europe began to expand. This meant that private investors and other governments had to help finance them. This was to create a larger market. The country of Portugal’s need of natural resources became the first reason for European exploration. They were the first country to send out voyagers to the new waters in search of new lands. Portugal did not have sufficient lands to grow crops and was one of the poorer countries in Europe so they became one of the first to set out on explorations.
One major factor in Europe’s success was their ships. They built their newer ships smaller and faster. This made trade more efficient. At this time many Europeans had misconceptions of the world outside the Mediterranean. They sent out voyagers in this manner like Christopher Columbus. He ended up finding America in search of a country on the opposite side of the world. One of the biggest leaders in European exploration was Columbus’s country of Spain. They went westward across the vast Atlantic ocean.
Eventually the founding of America came at the hand of European exploration. This led to the colonizing of the western world. After all the wars and the treaties America was eventually born. So one could say America owes its creation to the expansion of Europe way back in the 1400’s. Before the founding of America, the countries in Europe were not the same as they would become after America was founded. The country of England became engaged in war with the new colonies of the new world. They demanded to be free from the rule that England had on them so they could start their own country. So England went to war. Also there was immigration out of Europe to the west or the new world. Many different Europeans left their homes and sought out America in hopes of a better life. They not have always found a better life yet the fact remains that the European countries lost citizens due to immigration and there for was greatly effected by the discovering of America. To this day Americans are made up of a lot of different European back rounds. These family lines could even be tied back to the early Europeans explorers of the 1400’s. The same Europeans that were expanding by great exploration and discoveries such as the north American continent.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
2. What were 3 reasons why Portugal led Europe in 15th century exploration? (Why did they have advantages over their neighbors?)…
- 339 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The United States of America can trace it’s roots back to the English. They were frustrated with over-population, poverty, or lack of freedom of religion. In the early 1600s, England sent groups of settlers to the “New World” to establish permanent colonies. They founded the Virginia Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Although the two first colonies of America were similar, they also had very distinct differences.…
- 386 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
“The mid–to-late 15th century is documented as the “Age of Discovery” or the “Age of Exploration” by historians. During this time globalization was set into motion by adventurous maritime travel with ships setting sail on the seas of the Old World with their destination being the “Other World”. No European country understood the size of the Atlantic Ocean, or the length of the western African coastline. Nonetheless, Portugal leads the way with far more enthusiasm and wealth in geographic exploration of the land and sea over any other European country. (Zak. D, 2007)…
- 788 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
A great period "European in 15th and 16th century" is known as "the Age of Exploration." However what caused this improvement? During this period, European increasing their knowledges and techniques, expanded their land, also led their country to become rich. The main cause for European exploration in 15th and 16th century was spirit of adventure follow by economic motives to a lesser extend religious motives.…
- 475 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The European Age of Exploration was caused by the want for Asian goods, a fear of the Ottoman Empire, and to convert more people to Christianity. Accomplishments by the Europeans include gaining wealth, power, land, and knowledge, leading to the European Golden Age. The events that followed Vasco da Gama reaching India, and Christopher Columbus landing in the Americas, would not only change Europe, but would also lead to globalization.…
- 731 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
There were many reason to why the Europeans had started to look westward. Before explorers found site of the America’s commerce and nationalism were two important and related changes that provided the first incentive for many Europeans to look towards new land (Brinkley, pg.9). There also happened to be a person in search of new land, not for settlement, but in dream of establishing a Christian Empire and in search of gold. This person is known as Prince Henry the Navigator. Although, the only reason he planned on establishing an empire in the western coast of Africa; only to receive aid when his country goes to war. But before Prince Henry could achieve his goal, he died.…
- 757 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Numerous European countries in the 15th and 16th century took a leap from their own territory to explore the vast terrain of the New World, now known as the continents of North and South America. It teemed with resources lost or foreign to Europe and offered expansion as well as new trade and tools. This hurried interest in exploration was due in part to new tools and ships like the compass and the astrolabe for navigation and triangular sails and sternpost rudders for long distance sailing. This advance in navigation and increase in European colonists in the New World is what led to the heavily populated North and South America today. Portugal led this surge of exploration with it’s sea based economy and durable, lightweight ships like the caravel.…
- 629 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
During the 15th to the 17th century, Europeans engaged in intensive exploration and colonization of the world. Some of the many motives for exploration were that the Europeans wanted prestige, power, wealth, and to convert individuals to Christianity. Some historians often refer to this as the Age of Discovery, in which the Portuguese and Spaniards play a major role during this time.…
- 608 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The European Age of Exploration was very beneficial to not only Europe but also the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Although the European Age of Exploration was said to have come about for the purpose of finding or discovering new spices, that was not the only reason. The Europeans also set out to find new trade routes that went around the Ottoman’s territory and this exploration lead to the European Golden Age because it brought Europe out of the “Dark Ages.”…
- 463 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Geography and technology played a big role in Europe’s exploration because they were closer to the Americas than their Asian competitors, seeing that the Europeans only had to travel half the distance the Asians would have to travel to get to the Americas. Along with this is the fact that Atlantic Ocean was not as tumultuous as the Indian Ocean. The winds of the Atlantic, unlike those of the Indian Ocean, blew predictably in the same direction, making it easier to travel the Atlantic. Along with this, Europeans had the new and improved navigational technologies of the Asians that helped them to navigate the Atlantic winds. These technologies included rudders and compasses.…
- 374 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The Age of Exploration was a time period from the 15th century to the 18th century in which Europeans embarked on extensive overseas expeditions. European nations, such as Portugal, Spain, England, and the Netherlands, participated heavily in global trade and set up many trade routes and colonies. Many people would say that the Europeans’ only reason for exploration was to spread Christianity, obtain gold, and gain glory through their conquests and acquisition of lands. Some people might also say that the Ottomans heavily influenced the Europeans to participate in this period of exploration. Although the goals of “God, gold, and glory” are often associated with the Age of Exploration, the Ottoman Empire had a greater influence on the desire…
- 1133 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
The push from Portugal “silk trade through middle easy- meet large resistance, robbery, taxes passage. Portugal solved problem by sailing around Africa and became very wealthy and powerful. This inspired Spanish to find better route and solution. Many Europeans believe in a land to the west because of Vikings. Columbus believed there was nothing in between Europe and Asia to the west.…
- 8634 Words
- 35 Pages
Good Essays -
European traders had to solve their problem with Muslimcontrolled land - going by sea around Muslim-controlled…
- 2179 Words
- 11 Pages
Better Essays -
European life changed radically during the First Global Age. In 1415, Portugal seized a city on the North African coast. Prince Henry the Navigator sparked the crusading drive and the new spirit of exploration. In 1497, Vasco de Gama led four ships around the Cape of Good Hope. Columbus’s explorations to reach East Asia make Europeans realize a route to continents unknown to them. England, Portugal, Netherlands, and Spanish were involved in sea trade with Asia and grew wealthy and powerful.…
- 378 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
The main goal of European exploration was for "gold, glory and God", but this couldn't have been made possible without the advancements made in technology. The problem with European ships was that they could not sail against the wind. The caravel was a new ship that was much more sturdier than other vessels and it had triangular sails. Theses factors allowed the ship to sail against the wind. Europeans also improved their navigational systems. The astrolabe was used by sailors to better determine there location at sea. Additionally, sailors used the magnetic compass which allowed them to more accurately track their direction.…
- 338 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays