Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery, spanning from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries, marks a significant period in European history characterized by extensive maritime exploration. This era was initiated by Portuguese sailors venturing into the Atlantic and along the African coast, leading to a deeper understanding of West Africa and the establishment of trade routes. Key figures such as Vasco da Gama and Christopher Columbus played pivotal roles, with Columbus's 1492 journey resulting in the European awareness of the Americas. This period not only expanded geographical knowledge but also enhanced navigation technology and sparked scientific advancements in various fields.
The Age of Discovery had profound social and economic effects, as European nations sought to exploit new resources, including gold, spices, and other valuable commodities. While it facilitated the exchange of goods and cultures, it also led to the devastating impacts of colonization, including the spread of diseases and the disruption of indigenous societies. Explorers like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro famously encountered and conquered powerful empires, such as the Aztecs and Incas, furthering European ambitions. Ultimately, this era laid the groundwork for a globally connected world, shaping the course of history with both its achievements and its consequences.
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Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery took place between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. This period of human history is characterized by a rapid increase in the overall knowledge of the world and its lands brought on by European maritime travel. By sailing the oceans, explorers acquired a different perspective of the world. Topographers were able to create more accurate maps of Earth. New resources such as furs and spices were obtained and shared with people all over the globe. Repeated voyages eventually laid the groundwork for a global trade route, which introduced Europeans to many unique materials and resources. As a result, the Age of Discovery had major social and economic impacts on both Europe and explored continents during this era.
Apart from the cultural enlightenment experienced by explorers, the period also brought about a number of scientific innovations. Navigational instruments such as sundials and compasses were enhanced to improve travel. Sciences such as anatomy and optics began to grow and develop during this time. Europeans gained an incredible amount of knowledge about the world in the course of a few centuries, making this short era one of the most important periods in human history.
Overview
Though sea travel was common during medieval times and included lengthy expeditions by the Vikings and Mongols, the Age of Discovery did not begin until the early fifteenth century, when Portuguese sailors began traveling the Atlantic Ocean and exploring the African coast. Through these journeys, Portugal gained a thorough understanding of West Africa and began exporting unique items found there, such as gold, ivory, and pepper. The Portuguese were surprised to find that the African continent had large cities much like their own, with elaborate social and economic systems. In fact, the Portuguese were shocked to discover that some of these empires were more organized than big cities in Europe. They also discovered that some African cultures shared religious beliefs similar to their own, as well as similar knowledge and treatment of illnesses.
During this time, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama charted a new path to Asia—then known as the Indies—by sailing around Africa. This prompted further exploration of the continent's western coast. The route also gave Portugal direct access to trade with Asia. Clearly, Portugal played an instrumental role in many of the early feats of the Age of Discovery, including its triumph at circumnavigation. In 1522, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan led the first successful expedition to circle the planet—although Magellan himself died before the voyage was complete.
At the end of the fifteenth century, several years before da Gama completed his journey to Asia, Spain commissioned Italian explorer Christopher Columbus to voyage west in search of a new route to the Indies. Columbus's ship headed farther west than expected, however. He and his crew landed on the continent of North America in 1492. They dubbed this uncharted land the New World. They found it was filled with exotic fruits and wildlife that the sailors had never before seen. They also encountered the natives of the land, who taught them about their land and its resources—knowledge that the sailors shared when they returned home to Europe.
Columbus's travels inspired others to investigate the New World. Navigators such as Hernán Cortés adventured farther south, landing in what is now Mexico. Here he encountered the Aztec empire ruled by King Montezuma II. The king showered the Spaniards with gifts of gold and other precious gems and metals in the hopes that they would stay away from the wealthy capital city of Tenochtitlan. However, Cortés and his men learned of this great city and eventually used their military might to sack it and steal the contents of its treasury. Eventually, these explorers—who also introduced a variety of European diseases to native populations—brought an end to the great Aztec empire.
Gold became a major motivation to continue exploring the New World. Many European leaders hoped to gain control of the Pacific regions rich in gold and silver. In the mid-sixteenth century, another Spanish explorer, Francisco Pizarro, sailed down the Pacific coast from Panama and eventually found himself in Peru, where he learned of the Incan empire. The Incas held vast stores of gold and other precious metals. Pizarro ambushed the Incas in 1532 and laid waste to their empire, claiming all the gold for Spain. Spain and Portugal—and later England, France, and the Netherlands—soon established colonies in different parts of the New World, impacting world history in both positive and negative ways. Knowledge of the world was greatly expanded and many new goods were made available. However, slavery increased exponentially, diseases were spread from one continent to another, and ancient civilizations were destroyed for their treasures.
Exploratory efforts also extended to Northern Europe and farther east. The Dutch settled Australia and New Zealand in the seventeenth century. The Russians conquered much of modern-day Siberia. Global expansion was driven by newly established trade routes and increased access to luxury goods.
Scientific knowledge also expanded greatly during this time, as scientists were able to study previously unknown plants, animals, and minerals, further advancing such fields as botany, anatomy, and geology. Knowledge acquired from other civilizations was also incorporated into studies in agriculture and medicine. The maritime voyages led by centuries of explorers brought together almost all the corners of the world and ushered in an era of incredible progress.
Bibliography
Arnold, David. The Age of Discovery, 1400-1600. London: Routledge, 2013. Print. http://books.google.com/books?id=OfUDAQAAQBAJ&dq=the+age+of+discovery&source=gbs‗navlinks‗s
Jones, Julie. "Gold of the Indies." Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Web. 15 July 2014. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ingd/hd‗ingd.htm
Mutch, T.D. "The First Discovery of Australia." Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society. 28.5 (Sept. 2011). Print. http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0600631h.html
Ross, Emma George. "The Portuguese in Africa, 1415–1600." Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Web. 15 July 2014. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/agex/hd‗agex.htm
The Saylor Foundation. "The European Voyages of Exploration: Introduction." The Saylor Foundation. The Saylor Foundation.Web. 15 July 2014. http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/HIST201-3.1.1-EuropeanExplorationIntro-FINAL.pdf
Voorhies, James. "Europe and the Age of Exploration." Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Web. 15 Jul 2014. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/expl/hd‗expl.htm
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. "Age of Exploration (16th-17th centuries)." Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution. Web. 15 July 2014. http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=66617