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During the Renaissance, there was a lot of trade between Europe and Asia. As Europeans desired Asian luxury goods such as silks and spices.

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The Ottoman Turks controlled the land routes that linked Europe and Asia. However, they charged high taxes to pass through their territories. So, Europeans wanted to find another way to go to Asia.

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Caravels were oceangoing ships made by the Portuguese that were more efficient and easier to sail against the wind which earlier ships couldn't do. There were also other technological tools that they used such as the compass to navigate and the astrolabe that allowed sailors to steer a course by the stars.

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Caravels & New Navigational Techniques

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Prince Henry established a navigation school and encouraged sailors to explore Africa's western coast where trading posts were soon built. They also discovered an eastern sea route to India and eventually established a profitable Asian trade.

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An Italian navigator named Christopher Columbus was set to find a sea route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean. He then found land and thought it was Asia, however, he had found the land of the natives.

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Colonies are groups of people that settle into new land but however still keep ties with their native country. The Spanish established colonies in the Caribbean and were able to conquer large areas of the Americas.

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Portugal and Spain had a competition of whether who would control the newly encountered lands, but eventually agreed to the Treaty of Tordesillas to settle their competition. This treaty was an imaginary line through the Atlantic Ocean north to south stating that Portugal receives the eastern lands, and Spain receives the western lands.

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Soon the English, Dutch, and French had joined the competition for trade and new lands. The English formed the East India Company that established trading posts in India & colonies in North America. The Dutch founded the Dutch East India Company to join the competition in the Indian Ocean. Lastly the French joined the exploration race mainly to compete with their rivals, the English.

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European exploration changed the world with trade increasing greatly. Trading posts developed into colonies allowing more people to Europe to establish farms, towns, & cities in different continents. These colonies improved the mother countries as colonists brought European culture to different places around the world.