Factors Which Stimulated Atlantic Maritime Exploration in...

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†¦show more content†¦Thus each time a new tax was applied to the goods the Moslem merchants raised the price at which they would sell the goods at to recoup their expenses. Therefore as the Italian merchants had to cover their expenses that raised the prices of the goods also. This fact proved economically unacceptable to the other European merchants. The high cost of purchasing these goods made European merc hants willing to fund exploration to find an alternate route to the goods of India. The merchants believed that by finding the alternate route they could remove the middle men from the process of obtaining the goods and also as the route would not have to go through any other kingdom the goods would not be subjected to the taxation with increased the price it cost to obtain the goods. Therefore by obtaining the goods at a cheaper price the merchant realized they would gain vastly increased profits. Similarly it was not only merchants that saw the importance of finding and controlling a shorter route to the riches of Africa and India. Nations also saw the great benefits controlling such routes would bring to them. This was the principle reason that nations such as Portugal and Spain pursued maritime exploration. Portugal had to engage in this activity due to the fact that they did not have the natural resources in Portugal to engage in empire building. Prince Henry â€Å"theShow Mor eRelatedFactors Which Stimulated Atlantic Maritime Exploration in 15th Century2074 Words   |  9 Pages407001944 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