The fifteenth century was a critical tuning point for Europe and the rest of the world. It brought about the Age of Exploration, which transitioned Europe from the Middle Ages to the early modern world. There were many important factors that led Europeans to be able to broaden their horizons, so to speak, and explore new and uncharted territory. Major advances in technology, booming economy and commerce, the many deaths caused by the bubonic plague, and curiosity and the thirst for fame and fortune by monarchs and commoners, all helped Europeans be able to venture out beyond the limits of their current situation. This Age of Exploration not only impacted the development of Europe, but also of the rest of the world. Europeans in the middle
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By the year 1400, there were already both compasses and hourglasses available for explorers to use. The hourglass was used to help determine how much time was passing, which helped them calculate speed (34). Compasses during the fifteenth century were becoming more accurate in determining what direction the explorers were heading. Two other devices used by maritime explorers were the quadrant and astrolabe. The quadrant was used to determine the location that the ship was at sea, and the astrolabe was used to determine locations of a ship using lines of latitudes. In 1450 Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable type printing press which not only made printing a lot cheaper and easier, but it also made it so information and discoveries in the form of maps, charts, and books could be copied and passed on to others more easily (34). Advancement in ship design also explorers venture further than they ever thought was possible. The Portuguese developed a new ship called a caravel, which was faster and sturdier than any other ship before it. Caravels made it easier to handle ships at …show more content…
Uncertainty of their current life encouraged some to embark on sea voyages to new places. Successful exploration promised fame and fortune, and that enticed both commoners and monarchs alike to search for new and undiscovered places. Christopher Columbus, a commoner, was intrigued and wanted to explore so he could move up in society. He wanted to be rewarded with becoming a part of the aristocracy for his success (36). Columbus tried unsuccessfully for a while to get the financing he needed to explore his theories of reaching Asia by travelling west. In 1492, Columbus won over Queen Isabella of Spain, who like many others had their reasons for wanting to explore. She thought that if he were successful, she would have new territory, which would enrich her dynasty. More territory meant more subjects paying taxes, and participating in more commerce, therefore enhancing her power. Columbus never found Asia, but did stumble upon the New World, which jump-started others to explore. In 1519 Fernando Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe. Although he, along with most of his crew didn’t make it back, it provided an abundance of geographical information that helped many others set their sights on exploring the New World (39). Europe needed a lot of factors and events to happen in order for the Age of Exploration to occur. Because
By the year 1400, there were already both compasses and hourglasses available for explorers to use. The hourglass was used to help determine how much time was passing, which helped them calculate speed (34). Compasses during the fifteenth century were becoming more accurate in determining what direction the explorers were heading. Two other devices used by maritime explorers were the quadrant and astrolabe. The quadrant was used to determine the location that the ship was at sea, and the astrolabe was used to determine locations of a ship using lines of latitudes. In 1450 Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable type printing press which not only made printing a lot cheaper and easier, but it also made it so information and discoveries in the form of maps, charts, and books could be copied and passed on to others more easily (34). Advancement in ship design also explorers venture further than they ever thought was possible. The Portuguese developed a new ship called a caravel, which was faster and sturdier than any other ship before it. Caravels made it easier to handle ships at …show more content…
Uncertainty of their current life encouraged some to embark on sea voyages to new places. Successful exploration promised fame and fortune, and that enticed both commoners and monarchs alike to search for new and undiscovered places. Christopher Columbus, a commoner, was intrigued and wanted to explore so he could move up in society. He wanted to be rewarded with becoming a part of the aristocracy for his success (36). Columbus tried unsuccessfully for a while to get the financing he needed to explore his theories of reaching Asia by travelling west. In 1492, Columbus won over Queen Isabella of Spain, who like many others had their reasons for wanting to explore. She thought that if he were successful, she would have new territory, which would enrich her dynasty. More territory meant more subjects paying taxes, and participating in more commerce, therefore enhancing her power. Columbus never found Asia, but did stumble upon the New World, which jump-started others to explore. In 1519 Fernando Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe. Although he, along with most of his crew didn’t make it back, it provided an abundance of geographical information that helped many others set their sights on exploring the New World (39). Europe needed a lot of factors and events to happen in order for the Age of Exploration to occur. Because