The Mediterranean Sea had been the focus of European trade with other parts of the world for over 2000 years. In fact, until about the year 1500, the Atlantic Ocean had been a barrier, for Europeans. After 1492, this focus shifted to the Atlantic Ocean by routes south around the Cape of Good Hope, and by trans-Atlantic trade. European discoveries of new land meant an increase in commercial activity of the society from which the discoverer comes. Until then, most trading and manufacturing originated from Asia. The opening of the Atlantic introduced more sources and markets having a positive effect on European commerce. On a more specific level, the role of internal commerce in France, England, and the Spanish kingdoms exponentially. As Europeans recovered from the shock of the plague, the part of commerce and industry in the economy started to grow, particularly during the fifteenth century. This had…