The Age of Exploration Essay -- essays research papers

The desire to explore the unknown has been a movement force in human history since the dawn of condemnation. From the earliest record accounts, ancient civilizations have explored the world around them. Early adventures were motivated by sacred beliefs, a desire for conquest, the need for craftiness, and an unsatisfying hunger for gold. The commodious Age of Exploration, beginning in the late 1400s, was an important era in the discovery and development of lands yet unknown to the Europeans. During this period, Europe sought spic-and-span sea routes to Asia in pursuit of economic gain, adjoind glory, and opportunities to spread Christianity. Although these were motivations for explorers, the advert from the discoveries resulted in significant changes and achievements that created possibilities and opened a window to a parvenue world for all of Europe. If were non for the superpowers of Spain, Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands, the world as we know it would not exist.Leading the way in the exploration of the world was the nation of Spain with a man named Christopher Columbus. Originally intending to find an eastwardly trade route to Asia, Columbus accidently sight the Americas instead. When word of this New World reached Europe, it virtually started race betwixt the Nations on that point to claim on that point own piece of it. Spain continued their exploration there and rapidly claimed many resources and lands, but one thing was hindering them. The indigene Populations of the New World were getting in their way. They soon initiated a advertize of systematic 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 inventorying was farthest greater then that of the Indians, but these explorers had another weapon far more superior. The weapon they had was known as disea se, which included the Small pox and measles. Their prize for accomplishing their goal was the vast wealth of the societies and the large quantities of gold and plate that their lands held. They besides 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 vague differences between the two were almost unnoticeable and were often overlooked. Their Caribbean strongholds did stay independent though, and the Dutch joined in the slave trade to promote the sugar remonstrate 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 strict governmental regulations of a nations economy. The goals of such a system w ere to increase unity, power, wealth, and self-sufficiency through the accumulation of bullion, the favorable balance of trade, the establishment 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 advancement of technology, religious philosophy, and individuality do to the enlightenment in the 15th and 16th centuries. The possibilities were endless, and with these aspirations in mind, the nations of Europe set sail to conquer the world.