As the Europeans were growing more and more concerned with Muslims controlling the trade between Europe and Africa, Portugal decided in the 15th century to map the African coast line. Portugal made a significant milestone when it passed Cape Bojador in 1435, which was believed to be the edge of the known world before the "Sea of Darkness". Passing it safely meant confidence among the sailors to continue Portugal's journey.
Over several expeditions, Portugal reached the Cape of Good Hope in a mere 70 years, the southern most part of Africa. As Portugal continued its journey on the eastern African coast, it discovered the Muslim merchants' trading outposts along the way. However, despite attempts, the Portuguese found that the Europeans were not welcome in the West Indian Ocean, and had to return to Europe.
Spain, whom were also interested in securing trading from the Muslim traders, sent an expedition in 1492 to discover a Westward route to India to avoid the seas controlled by Muslims. However, rather than discovering India, the fleet ran into Bahamas, but the sailors believed that they had found India and called the natives Indians.
It would not be until 1504 that the Europeans finally realised that they had discovered a new continent and not Asia. Europeans began hard to discover a route to China and India, but was disappointed to learn that the Gulf of Mexico did not offer such a passage and in 1520, it was discovered that such a route would have to made south of the South American continent.
That voyage ended in 1522 when its last ship returned to Europe, marking the first ship ever to circumnavigate the Earth. The discovery of all these new lands in such a short period of time quickly got the Europeans scrambling for the New World and by the 19th century, Africa.
@Bobby, cpplink, Whitey, Bluh & Jud: That is no coincidence, I specifically asked her to be based on a modified Carmen Sandiego. Notice how she has a trenchcoat as well? Sure, that was also given some Captain Morgan fluff. But that only seems appropriate!
@Anon: Err... about 13 more.
@Fireheart: People really want those back, huh? I thought they were getting kinda lame.
I feel like a total boob for pointing this out (yes, word choice was intentional), but the word you're looking for (last paragraph, first sentence) is 'circumnavigate'.
Good lord, I'm paying more attention to the text than the image. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. XD
Great Picture! though she looks more like a red mage, also off subject if youve heard the news about osama bin laden being killed you should draw a group of troops stomping osama to death :)
@Bobby: I live in a welfare state, I am using the state's money! Well, actually, things are expensive here (25% VAT on everything), but we are also paid higher than other in countries to compensate. So this means everything foreign is extremely cheap! 45USD is what I spend on food every day.
@Somebody: Why is The Tale of Tenfingers unfinished? I bet I could write a whole page on that. I think a quicker answer to that is I finally have an idea how to wrap things up fairly neatly, and now I need to follow-through with it.
@sidneymt: A Slimythief game? Sounds like that'd be a fun one to play :]
![Historines: Age of Discovery [Commission]](./content/585.png)
Over several expeditions, Portugal reached the Cape of Good Hope in a mere 70 years, the southern most part of Africa. As Portugal continued its journey on the eastern African coast, it discovered the Muslim merchants' trading outposts along the way. However, despite attempts, the Portuguese found that the Europeans were not welcome in the West Indian Ocean, and had to return to Europe.
Spain, whom were also interested in securing trading from the Muslim traders, sent an expedition in 1492 to discover a Westward route to India to avoid the seas controlled by Muslims. However, rather than discovering India, the fleet ran into Bahamas, but the sailors believed that they had found India and called the natives Indians.
It would not be until 1504 that the Europeans finally realised that they had discovered a new continent and not Asia. Europeans began hard to discover a route to China and India, but was disappointed to learn that the Gulf of Mexico did not offer such a passage and in 1520, it was discovered that such a route would have to made south of the South American continent.
That voyage ended in 1522 when its last ship returned to Europe, marking the first ship ever to circumnavigate the Earth. The discovery of all these new lands in such a short period of time quickly got the Europeans scrambling for the New World and by the 19th century, Africa.