European exploration.
Definition
The voyages undertaken by European powers from the 15th through 17th centuries to discover new trade routes, claim territories, and spread Christianity. Driven by technological advances in navigation and competition among nations like Portugal, Spain, England, and France, these voyages reshaped global trade and demographics.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 Prince Henry the Navigator establishing a navigation school in Portugal
- 2 Hernán Cortés conquering the Aztec Empire in 1521
- 3 The Dutch East India Company dominating the spice trade in Southeast Asia