Beginning in the early 1400s, a large series of European voyages is seen that helped to charter the entire world. In order to undertake these long, expensive voyages wealthy private investors as well as entire governments financed them. The goal of these investments was to create a large market in which they believed they would profit. There were three main reasons for beginning of the Age of Exploration in Europe. The first reason was Portugal's need for natural resources.
Portugal was the first country that sent out voyagers in search of new waters and new land. Portugal was one of the poorer countries of Europe and the land was becoming increasingly unsuitable for the cultivation of crops that would sustain its population. In an attempt to find fresh natural resources, Portuguese explorers set out. Once they discovered the Canary and Azores islands, investors from Italy began to finance more Portuguese expeditions after finding that these Atlantic islands could provide sugar to the European countries that had great use for the luxury.
After the collapse of the Silk Roads, a series of trading routes that spread from Italy to Asia, where Europeans traded for Chinese silks and spices, trading became very expensive. Europeans would have to go through the merchants of the Turkish Empire, who were used as middlemen. Because the Europeans had to use Turkish middlemen, the cost of trading with Asia increased by a large margin with the increase of the demand for these products. The second reason Europeans began exploration voyages was an attempt to find an alternate route to Asia and to increase trade with other countries. Europeans traded with African for gold and ivory as well as for Chinese ginger and other spices.
Portugal was the first country that sent out voyagers in search of new waters and new land. Portugal was one of the poorer countries of Europe and the land was becoming increasingly unsuitable for the cultivation of crops that would sustain its population. In an attempt to find fresh natural resources, Portuguese explorers set out. Once they discovered the Canary and Azores islands, investors from Italy began to finance more Portuguese expeditions after finding that these Atlantic islands could provide sugar to the European countries that had great use for the luxury.
After the collapse of the Silk Roads, a series of trading routes that spread from Italy to Asia, where Europeans traded for Chinese silks and spices, trading became very expensive. Europeans would have to go through the merchants of the Turkish Empire, who were used as middlemen. Because the Europeans had to use Turkish middlemen, the cost of trading with Asia increased by a large margin with the increase of the demand for these products. The second reason Europeans began exploration voyages was an attempt to find an alternate route to Asia and to increase trade with other countries. Europeans traded with African for gold and ivory as well as for Chinese ginger and other spices.
|
|