The Age of Exploration/Age of Discovery

The so-called Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into
the early 17th century, during which European ships were traveled around the world to search for
new trading routes and partners to feed burgeoning capitalism in Europe.

Countries involved
With 40% of the world’s population involved, the SKA Project is truly a global enterprise.

Organizations from thirteen countries are currently members of the SKA Organization –
Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Further countries have expressed their
interest in joining the SKA Organization which will continue to expand over the coming years.
 Furthermore, whilst 13 countries are at the core of the SKA, around 100 organizations across
about 20 countries have been participating in the design and development of the SKA and are
now engaged in the detailed design of the telescope. Here is a list of links to the key participating
nations and the organizations that represent them on the SKA Board of Directors:

 Australia: Department of Industry and Science

 Canada: National Research Council
 China: Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China
 France: National Center for Scientific Research
 Germany: Max Planck Society
 India: National Centre for Radio Astrophysics
 Italy: National Institute for Astrophysics
 New Zealand: Ministry of Economic Development
 South Africa: National Research Foundation
 Spain: Ministry of Science, Innovation & Universities
 Sweden: Onsala Space Observatory
 The Netherlands: Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
 United Kingdom: Science and Technology Facilities Council

Reasons for exploration

Seven Reasons for Exploration
Curiosity--People wondered who and what was out there in the world.

· Wealth--Many people explored in order to find their fortune.

· Fame--Some people wanted to go down as a great name in history.

· National Pride--Many people explored to claim new lands for their country and become
national heroes.

· Religion--Some explorers went on pilgrimages to spread Christianity.

· Foreign Goods--People wanted to bring back spices and jewels that could not be found in their
own country.

· Better Trade Routes--Many people explored to find faster and cheaper ways to foreign.
Personalities on the age of exploration

There are three main reasons for European Exploration. Them being for the sake of their
economy, religion and glory. They wanted to improve their economy for instance by acquiring
more spices, gold, and better and faster trading routes. Also, they really believed in the need to
spread their religion, Christianity. Finally, they explored for their own personal interest like fame
from discovering new land.

England
Although, they all wanted to find the Northwest Passage the English were motivated by a desire
to colonize as much of the Americas as possible. In order to add to the ever-increasing British
Empire. England began sending explorers to the New World in the 1580's in search of exotic
food, wealth, and mercantilism. The British wanted to create colonies that would help produce
raw materials that would be imported into Great Britain. British companies would then refine
these products and sell the finished product back to the colonies at a higher rate. Italian navigator
and explorer Giovanni Caboto is credited with the discovery of continental North America on
June 24, 1497, under the commission of Henry VII.

Portugal
Portugal's geographical position helped to shape its course. Surrounded to the east and north by
Spain and having no outlets on the Mediterranean, Portugal was compelled to regard the Atlantic
Ocean as its main medium of travel. John I of Portugal led his people into a period of high
achievement. The North African city of Ceuta fell in 1415, giving a European power its first
toehold on the African continent. Prince Henry, a Navigator and son of John, organized
Portuguese resources and information for the purposes of exploration. Voyages were made into
the Atlantic to the Madeira Islands and the Azores.
Spain
The motives for Spanish exploration was to find Northwest Passage, which they believed was a
direct and efficient route to the Orient - home of spices, silks and wealth. The Spanish explorers
were in search of mineral wealth, looking for El Dorado (the City of Gold) and they aspired to
spread Christianity. Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who sailed across the Atlantic
Ocean in 1492, hoping to find a route to India in order to trade for spices.

France
They wanted to claim new land to expand their empires. France also wanted to spread
Christianity and find a new route by water to the East through North America. The French were
somewhat slow to develop an interest in the New World. It was only after a French privateer
(armed ship) captured a Spanish ship with Mexican gold and silver that attentions were directed
westward. Francis I then dispatched three navigators to the New World. In 1534, France’s King
Francis I authorized the navigator Jacques Cartier to lead a voyage to the New World in order to
seek gold and other riches, as well as a new route to Asia. Jacques Cartier was a French explorer
who named Canada after "kanata," the Huron-Iroquois word for settlement.
 important facts on the age of exploration

Age of Exporation
The so-called Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into
the early 17th century, during which European ships were traveled around the world to search for
new trading routes and partners to feed burgeoning capitalism in Europe. In the process,
Europeans encountered peoples and mapped lands previously unknown to them. Among the
most famous explorers of the period were Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Pedro
Álvares Cabral, John Cabot, Juan Ponce de León, and Ferdinand Magellan.

The Age of Exploration was rooted in new technologies and ideas growing out of the
Renaissance, these included advances in cartography, navigation, and shipbuilding. The most
important development was the invention of first the Carrack and then caravel in Iberia. These
that were a combination of traditional European and Arab designs were the first ships that could
leave the relatively passive Mediterranean and sail safely on the open Atlantic.
The first great wave of expeditions was launched by Portugal under Prince Henry the Navigator.
Sailing out into the open Atlantic the Madeira Islands were discovered in 1419 and in 1427 the
Azores were discovered and both became Portuguese colonies. The main project of Henry the
Navigator was exploration of the West Coast of Africa. For centuries the only trade routes
linking West Africa with the Mediterranean world were over the Sahara Desert. These routes
were controlled by the Muslim states of North Africa, long rivals to Portugal. It was the
Portuguese hope that the Islamic nations could be bypassed by trading directly with West Africa
by sea. It was also hoped that south of the Sahara the states would be Christian and potential
allies against the Muslims in the Maghreb. The Portuguese navigators made slow but steady
progress, each year managing to push a few miles further south and in 1434 the obstacle of Cape
Bojador was overcome. Within two decades the barrier of the Sahara had been overcome and
trade in gold and slaves began in with what is today Senegal. Progress continued as trading forts
were built at Elmina and Sao Tome and Principe became the first sugar producing colony. In
1482 an expedition under Diogo Cão made contact with the Kingdom of Kongo. The crucial
breakthrough was in 1487 when Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope and proved
that access to the Indian Ocean was possible. In 1498 Vasco da Gama made good on this promise
by reaching India.