European History

By the early 1400's Europe reached a unique point in there

Economy they had developed there economy to the highest

Point possible for there time. The 1400's ended the middle

Ages and developed the age of exploration and discovery.

The years of 500ad-1100ad is known as the early/

Low middle ages, during this period there economic heath

Decreased 80%, from 1100ad-1400ad were the late/high

Middle ages. The economic health increased due to the central

Monarchy this was due to feudal states taking over other feudal

States. During the early middle ages there was no central gov't

In Europe, they were under the control of feudalism.

After 1400ad Europe reached its highest economic points

Since 500ad. Europe at this time was full of wealthy bankers

And merchants they were looking to invest but Europe reached

The point of saturation, they had to look outside the borders of

Europe to make $ they needed exploration of the world to do this

To make this dream a reality the wealthy pooled there $

Together in order to invest in exploration, they would use this

Pooled $ to develop a corporation not at the hands of the gov't

This is called a private sector venture. Once the investors developed

There corporation they need to go the to govt for the right to invest

Beyond the borders of Europe. If they govt agrees they grant the

Corporation a royal charter. Most voyages of exploration failed

But the ones that succeeded brought plenty of $ for the economy.

To protect there investments the corp's put together standing

Armies, these standing armies were known as privateers they had

There own boats, weapons, training, and uniforms.

From 1400-1500AD there was a lot that the corporations

Had to figure out before they can start making $, they had to

Understand and develop trade winds, cartography, ships compass,

And cargo vessels.

Trade winds were safe predictable winds that sailors and

Traders used to safely get across the ocean with there valuable vessels

And cargo. There are 2 key trade Winds one is known as the middle

Passage and the other are around the Cape of Good Hope. The Middle

Passage is the way from the old world to the new world, the cape of

Good hope is the southern most tip of Africa sitting between the Indian

And Atlantic oceans, they winds by the Cape of Good Hope are some of

The strongest in the world blowing southbound. From 1493-1498 Vasco

Dagama