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What was the Age of Exploration?

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Quick answer

The Age of Exploration was a period from the 15th to 17th centuries when European powers sailed the globe seeking trade routes, riches, and territory. It connected continents, reshaped world trade and empires, but also brought conquest and colonization. European voyages of discovery, roughly 1400s–1600s.

Key things to understand

  1. European voyages of discovery, roughly 1400s–1600s.
  2. Driven by trade routes, gold, and new territory.
  3. It linked continents and globalized trade.
  4. It also brought conquest, colonization, and disease.

People also ask

What was the Age of Exploration?
An era when European powers sailed the world seeking trade, wealth, and territory, connecting continents.
Why did the Age of Exploration happen?
A search for direct trade routes to Asia, riches, and new lands, aided by better ships and navigation.
What were its consequences?
Global trade and cultural exchange, but also colonization, conquest, and devastating disease for native peoples.