New Geographical Discoveries and

Their Impact

Dr Suresh Singh

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 A brief overview of the Constantinople
The history of the Byzantine Empire can be traced to some historians from
222 BC and 313 BC. It was an ancient empire built around a Greek colony
called Byzantium
It became the site of Roman Emperor Constantine's "New Rome," a Christian
city of enormous wealth and spectacular architecture, in A.D. 330.
Since then, Constantinople has become a significant vicinity and an
integral part of the Byzantine Empire, from where the Byzantine Empire was
functioning.
 After the Western Roman Empire fell apart in the late 5th century,
Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Constantine rebuilt Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople. Because the
Roman Empire had grown too large to govern from a single location, it was
divided into Eastern and Western portions.

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 FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND ITS IMPACT

 In 1453, Mehmed II of the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople,

disrupting the land trade route to the East. Europeans, dependent on

Constantinople for spices and luxury goods, faced a supply cut-off.

 This compelled the search for new sea routes. The fall of Constantinople also

triggered a migration of culture and intellect to Western Europe, reviving

classical learning and fostering the Renaissance.

 These efforts ultimately led to the discovery of previously unknown lands,

known as geographical discoveries.

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 Inspiring Travel Stories

Marco Polo's (1254-1324) Tales: Exciting stories about China and India by
Marco Polo and others sparked Europeans' interest in Eastern wealth.
 Voyage Accounts: Other travel stories like The Merchant's Handbook and
Secrets of the Faithful Crusader encouraged exploration.
 Desire for Adventure and Competition:
 Adventure Spirit: The thrill of exploring new lands motivated voyagers.
 Competition Among Nations: European nations competed, pushing
explorers to sail and discover new territories.
 Historians use "Gold, God, and Glory" as a quick way to sum up the reasons
behind European exploration from 15 to 16. It signifies the pursuit of wealth,
the spread of Christianity, and the desire for fame and honour, driving
European nations to expand and become global powers.

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 Early Portuguese Explorer

An early patron of Portuguese exploration

was Henrique, the third son of Portugal’s

King.

known as Henrique o Navegador, or Henry

the Navigator. began from 1419-1460


Prince Henry established the first navigation

school in Sagres, Portugal.


Sponsored numerous explorers and
expeditions, leading to the design of the
caravel.


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Want to spread Christianity to the rest of the world

Under his support, Portuguese explorers first sailed to Africa's Gambia River.

In1432 some of his sailors explored and discovered Madeira and Azores island

Few years later, his sailors explored the west coast of Africa.

 They found boiling water, and sailors were afraid. However, under the guidance of

Henry, they overcame and conquered the Cape Verde islands

 They traded ivory, timber and salves from Africa

Even after Henry died in 1460, his followers continued to fulfill his dream

 Find a sea route to northern China (Cathay) inspired Portuguese exploration.

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 Bartholomew Diaz
Bartholomew Diaz attempted to travel south along Africa's west coast
in 1486.
Due to currents, he could not cross southern Africa.
 he named the "cape of Storms"
 Later King John II of Portugal renamed it "Cape of Good Hope.“
Vasco de Gama,
 commissioned by the Portuguese King in 1497, explored beyond the
Cape of Good Hope,
Discovering the sea route to India and
Returning valuable spices and precious stones,
Establishing Portuguese control over eastern trade routes.

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 Spain
The Italian sailor Christopher Columbus, influenced by the belief in a westward

route to the Far East based on Earth's round nature, embarked on a historic voyage.

 King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain funded his trip in 1492 with three

ships- Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta along with 88 sailors.

Despite Columbus's expectation of reaching India, he landed on an entirely new

land named the West Indies.

Subsequently, Amerigo Vespucci discovered the American mainland, leading to the

continent being named after him.

Columbus's voyages played a pivotal role in the exploration of the Americas,

marking a significant chapter in the Age of Discovery.

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 Further Spanish Exploration

Amerigo Vespucci (1454–1512), an Italian representing the Medici banking house

in Spain, found inspiration in Christopher Columbus's discoveries.
Conducting four voyages in the late 15th century to areas previously explored by
Columbus, Vespucci authored a letter asserting that Columbus had not found Asia
but an entirely new land, which he called the "New World."
The term "America" was conferred upon this newfound continent by a German
mapmaker, Martin Waldseemüller 1507, crafting a world map to tribute Amerigo
Vespucci (Latin: Americus).
Thus, Vespucci's contributions and naming of the New World became significant
elements in the evolving narrative of exploration and geographical understanding.

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 Ferdinand Magellan's Circumnavigation
(Circumnavigation" refers to sailing or travelling around the Earth, navigating various oceans and returning
to the starting point. It's like making a complete trip around the world by ship.)

The Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan undertook a monumental

expedition from 1519 to 1522.
 During this journey, Magellan meticulously explored the eastern coastline of
South America, ultimately reaching the continent's southernmost point.
This geographical landmark is now known as the "Strait of Magellan," named in
honour of his pioneering efforts.
Upon navigating through the strait, Magellan and his crew ventured into the
expansive and previously uncharted "Pacific Ocean."
This transition starkly contrasted the turbulent and challenging seas they had
encountered earlier in their expedition.
Magellan's exploration not only contributed to the understanding of global
geography but also left an enduring legacy, immortalized in naming the Strait of
Magellan and the expansive Pacific Ocean.
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 Cont,d

In the Philippines, Magellan had trouble with the local people, and sadly, he died

during his journey to the West.

 Nevertheless, even after he was gone, his team kept going. They crossed the Indian

Ocean and returned to Europe, finishing a trip around the world, which was a big deal

because no one had done it before.

Magellan's journey helped us understand more about the Earth. Going all the way

around showed that we can travel the entire globe.

This discovery opened up new trade routes between Europe and Asia during the Age

of Exploration. So, even though Magellan did not finish the trip himself, his adventure

significantly impacted how we see and navigate the world.

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Circumnavigation

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 Other Explorer

John Cabot's Exploration of England (1497):

 In 1497, John Cabot, an Italian explorer sailing under the English flag, was
commissioned by King Henry VII of England to seek a westward route to Asia.
 Cabot's expedition led him to discover new lands, likely the coast of North America,
precisely what is now believed to be Newfoundland. This journey is significant as it
marks one of the earliest European expeditions to reach the shores of North America
since the Vikings (Vikings,- a seafaring group from Scandinavia, lived from the late 8th
to early 11th century, renowned for their skilled navigation, exploration, and raiding of
other lands.).
 Even though Cabot found no evidence of a thriving population, his landing on the
coast allowed England to claim parts of North America. This laid the foundation for
England's later interest and involvement in exploring and colonizing the new world.

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Jacques Cartier's Expedition for France (Exploration of Canada in 1534):

 Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, went to explore North America.

 While there, he found settlements of Red Indians, the Indigenous people.

During his explorations, Cartier gave the region a name.

 He called it "Canada." This name stuck, and today, Canada is a country in

North America.

So, Jacques Cartier's journey explored new lands and left a lasting mark by

naming a significant part of North America.

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 Conclusion
The new geographical discoveries of the Age of Exploration, marked by the arrival of

European explorers in the Americas, Africa and Asia, triggered transformative consequences

for indigenous cultures. This era witnessed the profound restructuring of societal norms,

language, and religious practices among native populations. The adoption of Christianity,

facilitated by European encounters, played a central role in reshaping spiritual beliefs while

introducing European technologies that disrupted traditional economic systems. The

emergence of slavery as a consequence of European colonial expansion introduced lasting

social and economic changes to indigenous societies. Additionally, the devastating impact of

introduced diseases, to which indigenous peoples had little immunity, resulted in significant

demographic upheavals, causing the loss of cultural knowledge and restructuring power

dynamics within native communities.

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 Cont’d

The encounter between European and indigenous societies during these new

geographical discoveries brought about multifaceted and constant changes.

These transformations not only changed the course of native history but also

left an unforgettable mark on the social, cultural, and demographic dynamics

of the Americas, Africa and Asia. The result of this historical intersection

continues to resonate in these regions' contemporary landscape.

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Reference:
1.Jacobs, Joseph. The Story of Geographical Discovery: How the World Became Known.
D. Appleton & Company, 1899.
2. The Age of Reconnaissance: Discovery, Exporation and Settlement, 1450-1650.
Hachette UK, 2010.
3. Fisher, H. A. L. A History of Europe, 1939.

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