The Age of Exploration, which spanned roughly from 1400 to 1550, was the first time in history that European powers—eyeing new trade routes to the East or seeking to establish empires—began actively looking far past their own borders to gain a better understanding of the world and its many resources. The individuals who set out on behalf of the countries they represented came from a variety of backgrounds, and included master navigators such as Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan—the latter of whom was the first to circle the globe—as well as the often ruthless conquistadors of the New World such as Francisco Pizarro and Hernan Cortes. The exciting and sometimes tragic lives and journeys of these and many others as well as the battles for empire that arose are chronicled in this engaging volume.

The story of the European discovery of North America does not end with—in fact it does not really even begin with—Christopher Columbus. This engaging title tells the story of the explorers who became the first Europeans to visit the lands that would later become the United States of America. Readers will learn about the Spanish explorers of the Southwest and the Gulf Coast, the English and Dutch explorers of the Atlantic Coast, and the French explorers of the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi River. They’ll discover what the goals and motivations behind each expedition were, which native people the explorers encountered, and what sorts of obstacles had to be overcome for each expedition to succeed. A fascinating account of a formational period in American history.

The Age of Discovery explores one of the most dramatic features of the late medieval and early modern period: when voyagers from Western Europe led by Spain and Portugal set out across the world and established links with Africa, Asia and the Americas. This book examines the main motivations behind the voyages and discusses the developments in navigation expertise and technology that made them possible. This second edition brings the scholarship up to date and includes two new chapters on the important topics of the idea of "discovery" and on biological and environmental factors which favoured or limited European expansion.

Surveys the art of the Age of Exploration in Europe, the Far East, and the Americas

The Age of Discovery began in the early part of the 15th century and carried on through most of the 17th century. It is sometimes also referred to as the Age of Exploration. This was a time when the people of Europe began to travel, discover, and explore more of the world than ever before, mapping and naming the places they found.

Land ho! Discover what the Age of Exploration was all about in this wonderful addition to the bestselling Who HQ series! Before the fifteenth century, European sailors were unsure what waited for them beyond their well-known travel routes around the Mediterranean Sea, so they kept within sight of land. But all of that changed after Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal started sending ships down the coast in the hope of finding a sea route to India and Africa. This was the beginning of a giant leap toward understanding what the globe actually looked like. Certain European nations grew rich and powerful from the New World gold and lands they claimed, while advanced, long-standing civilizations like the Aztecs and Incas were destroyed in the cruelest of ways. This book also features the fun black-and-white illustrations and engaging 16-page photo insert that readers have come love about the What Was? series!