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Advances in technology made the voyages of discovery possible. In the 1400s shipbuilders designed a new vessel, the caravel. The caravel was sturdier than earlier vessels.

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Stephen DeCasien, a 3rd year NAP Ph.D. student, was published in the lastest volume of the Journal of Ancient History! His article "Ancient Roman Naval Rams as Objects of Phallic Power" explores the political and gendered meanings of the naval ram within Roman society.

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The desire to spread Christianity motivated Europeans to explore. They hoped to Christianize the Asian people.

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Portugal was the first European country to establish trading outposts along the west coast of Africa. They encountered large supplies of gold, silver, and jewels.

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Portugal built a bustling trading empire thought the Indian ocean. In 1509 it extended control over the area from Muslim merchants. Portugal built a fort at Hormuz to strengthen its hold on the region.

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Believed that they would have to sail around the southern tip of Africa to reach Asia.