sources:

www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/flemish/timeline.html

The Age of Exploration

The Age of Exploration began in the 1400's because explorers had a desire to find new trade routes from Europe to The Middle East, Asia and Africa. Since the demand for goods was raising so much in the 1400’s Europe had to send out explorers to find less expensive trade routes to Asia. The explorers were determined to find trade routes through the “Indies” so they would not have to deal with the Italians or Muslims.  Portugal and Spain were the only two European Nations that sent out ships to look for new trade routes. The three most important explorers of the age in my opinion were Prince Henry, Christopher Columbus, and Magellan. I think that Prince Henry was one of the most important explorers of the age because even though he did not go on any expeditions himself he directed many important expeditions. He also started a school of navigation where sailors and mapmakers could learn their trades. The Italian-born explorer Christopher Columbus was one of the most important explorers in my opinion because when he was denied his voyage by Portugal he went to Spain and got approval to look for new trade routes to Asia, but instead he found the new world. Another important explorer was the Portuguese explorer Magellan. Magellan won Spain’s voyage to find the straight. In August 1519 he set sail with five ships to look for the straight along South America’s east coast. When he made it to the Philippines after a long hard journey he made it home with only eighteen sailors when he started off with two hundred fifty. These expeditions affected Europe’s economy greatly. It affected the economy because they were constantly sending out new explorers to find new trade routes and to trade. Between food and labor the government of Europe had to spend a lot of money on each journey and with the demand for trade raising it was more urgent. The new discoveries affected the relationships between the different European Nations because when a new trade route of piece of land was discovered it would cause controversy over the trade route or land. If I were living in The Age of Exploration my life would have been affected differently depending on where I live. If I lived in certain area then I would be affected by the falling economy while if I lived in another area I would have the ability to take advantage of the lower prices on items from Asia and other places. I would have taken advantage of the lower prices on goods and if I was an explorer I would use the routes for fast trade. Also if I lived in a place where I was unhappy I could move to the New World after Columbus discovered it.