The Age of Exploration Essay -- essays research papers

The desire to explore the un slamn has been a driving force in human history since the dawn of time. From the earliest documented accounts, ancient civilizations have explored the world around them. Early adventures were move by religious beliefs, a desire for conquest, the need for trade, and an unsatisfying crave for amber. The great Age of Exploration, beginning in the late 1400s, was an important while in the disc all overy and development of lands yet unknown to the Europeans. During this period, Europe sought-after(a) new sea routes to Asia in pursuit of economic gain, increased glory, and opportunities to crack Christianity. Although these were motivations for explorers, the impact from the discoveries resulted in significant changes and achievements that created possibilities and opened a window to a new world for all of Europe. If were not for the superpowers of Spain, Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands, the world as we know it would not exist.Leading the w ay in the exploration of the world was the state of Spain with a man named Christopher capital of Ohio. Originally intending to find an eastwardly trade route to Asia, Columbus accidently discovered the Americas instead. When word of this New World reached Europe, it virtually started race surrounded by the Nations there to claim there own piece of it. Spain continued their exploration there and rapidly claimed many resources and lands, only if one thing was impeding them. The native Populations of the New World were getting in their way. They soon initiated a campaign of dustatic anhilation of the Natives. Conquistadors soon flocked from Spain to rid the world of these savages. Soon, Hernan Cortez had conquered Mexico and the Aztecs, while Francisco Pizarro conquered Peru and the Incans. The Spanish armory was far greater then that of the Indians, but these explorers had another heavy weapon far more superior. The weapon they had was known as disease, which included the less ened Pox and measles. Their prize for accomplishing their goal was the vast wealth of the societies and the large quantities of gold and silver that their lands held. They also aquired slaves to work in the plantations and settlements they were starting. In the end, Spain had control over lands in Northern, Central, and Southern America, as well as the Philippines.Parallel to Spain, ... ...ged. The slow differences between the two were almost unnoticeable and were often overlooked. Their Caribbean strongholds did stay single-handed though, and the Dutch joined in the slave trade to promote the net cane trade.The Age of Exploration was not only an era of exploration, but also an era of vast change. The fierce competition present at this time brought about a new form of economy called the moneymaking(a) System. The Mercantile System was an economic system based on set governmental regulations of a nations economy. The goals of such a system were to increase unity, power, wealth, and self-sufficiency through the accumulation of bullion, the favorable balance of trade, the introduction of trade monopolies, the development of agriculture and manufacturing methods, and finally, the colonizing of other lands. Making all of these accomplishments possible, though, was the publicity of technology, religious philosophy, and individuality do to the enlightenment in the 15th and sixteenth centuries. The possibilities were endless, and with these aspirations in mind, the nations of Europe set sail to conquer the world.