Back to "Exploration and Trade"

Some people are fascinated by the ocean from curiosity to learn more about the world. One of them is Prince Henry of Portugal, known as the navigator Prince Henry. With the help of mathematicians, astronomers, mapmakers and other navigators, Prince Henry sent an expedition to explore the west coast of Africa. These exploration led to the trading of gold and ivory, and soon the slave traded. Later, the Portuguese seafarers found the route at the southern tip of Africa and carried them all through the sea completely to India.

In 1492, Columbus was brought to the New World by sailing west toward the east of the world - today is known as the land of the Americas. Columbus first began looking for a full water route to the eastern Indian islands; when he discovered the Americas, he believed that he arrived at his destination. The Europeans realized that he had found a new land for ten years.

These new continents offer wealth in addition to spices in the form of gold and silver. Spanish Hernando Cortez has discovered lots of gold in Azteca now known as Mexico. More gold stories have conquered him and other Spanish explorers the majority of Mexico and Latin America.

The discovery of silver led to the mining of silver in Mexico and South America. Other discoveries in the New World introduce Europeans to corn, tomato, tobacco and chocolate

Exploration: Europeans began exploring the whole world; Portugal explored Africa and eventually got a lot of trade ports in Africa and Asia; war: the Ottoman Empire conquered the modern Middle East; trade : Qing Dynasty established a comprehensive trade relationship with Europeans in the 1690s. British trade in India will eventually lead to British rule of India, Atlantic slave trade in Africa, colonization: Spain Latin America, France and Britain in North America, UK in India and Portuguese in Brazil.

Explorers from the 15th century to the 16th century have various motives, but they are often moved by trade and wealth prospects. The earliest exploration along the coast of West Africa aims to bypass the trade route that brought money to the Sahara desert. With the subsequent improvement of naval technology, the Europeans were able to reach India and ultimately the United States. The design of the new boat is especially useful for early exploration in Spain and Portugal. Prior to the 15th century, Spain and Portugal were heavily dependent on a ship called a kitchen. Although the kitchen is quick and easy to operate, it is designed to be used in a limited waters of the Mediterranean, so it is unstable and inefficient in the open ocean. In response to marine navigation, European seafarers have adapted vessels called gears primarily for the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. And it is improved by increasing the sail design used in the Islamic world.

Exploration of the sea and the final new world (North and South America) was originally aimed at finding a sea route to trade with Asia. Asian countries offer valuable products such as spices, silks, precious metals, and the European people desire. Transporting these goods on land is labor intensive and it is often dangerous because desert and mountains need a long way to go. On the sea route, you can ship goods back and forth easily and quickly. After the Europeans traveled the New World, they saw the great potential of economic (perhaps mental) profit. There are many animals and resources that Europeans have never encountered so far, these animals and resources are very popular on the African continent. The colony was founded to utilize the land and resources of the Americas, and the second attempt was to westernize indigenous peoples.