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

  • Prince Henry the Navigator establishing a navigation school in Portugal
  • Hernán Cortés conquering the Aztec Empire in 1521
  • The Dutch East India Company dominating the spice trade in Southeast Asia

Related Terms

Age of exploration Columbian exchange Maritime empires Colonial settlements

Study This Concept

Practice European exploration with free review games in these units:

AP US History Unit 1: 1491-1607: Pre-Columbian America