European Imperialism In The 16th Century

European Expansion and Colonization

In the sixteenth century, the ability of the Europeans to be able to colonize land across the seas can be accounted to changes occurring in trade and technology. After the black plague, the European economy was beginning to recover and looking to expand. Technologies in sailing also saw great advancements during this time period, allowing the Europeans to cross the seas successfully.

First of all, the European economy was able and moving toward expansion. The only way this expansion could be achieved was to add new territory to the economy. Due to their surrounding countries, the best option for expansion was to look across the seas. Europeans also didn’t have a strong presence in the Eurasian world of commerce, and therefore were not seeing much of a benefit. They would have to look elsewhere if they wanted a substantial role in commerce. In addition, Europeans were seeking a direct connection to the Asian trading markets. They no longer wished to rely on Muslims to bring their goods to Asian markets, and to bring Asian goods
They improved their navigation techniques through the invention of the caravel, which was a light, fast, and maneuverable ship. Also the use of a modified astrolabe, commonly referred to as the mariner's astrolabe, was used to determine latitude. Europeans also made advancements in mapmaking, by designing maps that showed geological features as they existed, rather than showing them inaccurately. Sailing techniques were also improved through advancements such as the sternpost rudder, which helped improve steering. In addition, the triangular lateen sail also improved maneuverability. Larger ships were also designed that allowed more people to be carried onboard to a new land. In total these technological advancements lead to the Europeans gaining the ability to make large-scale explorations and colonization