Why did the Europeans explore so prolifically between the 14-16 centuries? The ‘Age of Exploration’ is the period between the 14th-16th century. It is known for the European exploration into other parts of the world. The Age of Exploration is the period when European countries ventured into unknown territories to find spice routes, to set up trade routes with the East, to find new wealth in the form of gold and silver, and to spread Christianity. Many factors, mostly technological advances, made it easier for countries to explore beyond the European Continent at this time. The world was first ruled by the Portuguese and the Spanish. The western half of the world was controlled by Spain whereas the eastern half of the world was controlled by the Portuguese. The Age of Exploration took place at the same time as the Renaissance. Firstly, It was the Renaissance spirit that encouraged men to go on expeditions. People weren’t forced to go and explore, it was their will. They wanted to be famous, they wanted to be rich. If it wasn’t for their spirit, everyone would think it’s far too risky and dangerous and no one would ever go out to the seas. This spirit …show more content…
Advancements in ships affected exploration massively. When ships were improved, people could sail farther, faster and safer. Better ships like that made traveling the world easier. So explorers could go and explore new lands that Europeans had never seen. Along with ships, new navigational tools also helped sailors to travel more safely in the open seas. By the end of the 15th century, the compass improved a lot. Sailors used compasses to find their bearing, or direction of travel. The Printing press helped spread scientific discoveries and it was much faster than writing by hand. The art and science of maps improved and became more accurate as the sailors explored and found the flaws in the old maps. Better maps helped explorers by making navigation