Life in Europe before the exploration of the “New World” was making no progress toward expanding themselves economically or intellectually. Europe had many withdraws from world affairs due to feudalism, causing europe to be excluded, as well as the downfall to their education and trading. With Trading routes providing posts that would earn city-states the wealth and power to purchase their freedom from feudal lords the feudal system began to fall. The decline of feudalism in Western Europe sparked competition amongst the nations and would inspire them to go out and search for cheaper and/or more valuable materials. Especially since the theory of mercantilism became to be which implied a nation’s success or well-being was determined by the
