Factors Which Stimulated Atlantic Maritime Exploration in 15th Century
Name: Omar Joseph
Course Code: Hist 1601
Student Number: 407001944
Title: Assess the factors which stimulated Atlantic Maritime exploration in 15th century
During the period of time 1400-1499 great gains were made by the Europeans in their quest for knowledge of the world they lived in. In this time period the Europeans circum-navigated Africa, located the territories of the West Indies and basically redrew the map of the world. All these things had one thing in common; they were the result of extensive Atlantic maritime exploration. The reasons that European engaged in such aggressive exploration in 15th century can be attributed to several factors. These factors can be grouped into three major headings, technological and navigational advances, economic motives and religious cause. This essay will look at exactly how these factors stimulated Atlantic maritime exploration by focusing on the two most important Dates 15th century exploration; 1420 and 1492. 1420 marked the beginning of Prince Henry the navigator’s promotion of exploration around the coast of West Africa. Similarly 1492 was the year in which Columbus set out westward. Both these days marked a shift in the focus of European exploration. This essay will seek to explain what the factors were motivated these two events. One of the principle reasons that the Europeans began looking at Atlantic exploration was the fact that they had finally amassed the technological and navigational know-how to make the long voyages necessary for Atlantic exploration. The finally had the technology to overcome the many barriers to exploration such as the effect wind and currents had upon navigation as suggested by Thornton, “for the winds and currents created barriers to traffic for thousands of years.” . These barriers prevented maritime exploration until as Davidson states “Until the1430s the seaboard nations of Europe possessed no ships that were good enough for long range discovery…. Through the Arabs
Course Code: Hist 1601
Student Number: 407001944
Title: Assess the factors which stimulated Atlantic Maritime exploration in 15th century
During the period of time 1400-1499 great gains were made by the Europeans in their quest for knowledge of the world they lived in. In this time period the Europeans circum-navigated Africa, located the territories of the West Indies and basically redrew the map of the world. All these things had one thing in common; they were the result of extensive Atlantic maritime exploration. The reasons that European engaged in such aggressive exploration in 15th century can be attributed to several factors. These factors can be grouped into three major headings, technological and navigational advances, economic motives and religious cause. This essay will look at exactly how these factors stimulated Atlantic maritime exploration by focusing on the two most important Dates 15th century exploration; 1420 and 1492. 1420 marked the beginning of Prince Henry the navigator’s promotion of exploration around the coast of West Africa. Similarly 1492 was the year in which Columbus set out westward. Both these days marked a shift in the focus of European exploration. This essay will seek to explain what the factors were motivated these two events. One of the principle reasons that the Europeans began looking at Atlantic exploration was the fact that they had finally amassed the technological and navigational know-how to make the long voyages necessary for Atlantic exploration. The finally had the technology to overcome the many barriers to exploration such as the effect wind and currents had upon navigation as suggested by Thornton, “for the winds and currents created barriers to traffic for thousands of years.” . These barriers prevented maritime exploration until as Davidson states “Until the1430s the seaboard nations of Europe possessed no ships that were good enough for long range discovery…. Through the Arabs
Bibliography: 1. Davidson, Basil. A History of West Africa 1000-1800. London: Longman Group Ltd 1965. 2. Ojelabi, Adekunle. A Textbook of West African History. Nigeria: Educational Research Institute 1970. 3. Thornton, John. ‘The Birth of an Atlantic World’, Caribbean Slavery in the Atlantic World. Eds. Beckles, Hilary and Shepherd, Verene. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers 2000. 55-73. 4. Wood, Russell. ‘Before Columbus: Portugal’s African Prelude to the Middle Passage and Contribution to Discourse on Race and Slavery’, Caribbean Slavery in the Atlantic World. Eds. Beckles, Hilary and Shepherd, Verene. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers 2000. 11- 31.