Final answer:
Technology was pivotal in the European Age of Discovery by advancing navigation and shipbuilding, allowing explorers to embark on transatlantic journeys, establish new trade routes, and connect with diverse cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Technology played a critical role in enabling the European voyages of discovery during the Age of Exploration, which spanned from approximately 1450 to 1750. Spain and Portugal led this era with their technological advances, exploration, and colonization. The geographical position of the Iberian Peninsula, combined with their history incorporated into the Islamic world, facilitated advancements in navigation and shipbuilding. Innovations such as the lateen sail, cannons for ship defense, and the magnetic compass were essential in aiding European sailors to navigate open waters, seek new trade routes, and explore beyond their coastal boundaries.
Additionally, the influence of the Renaissance era's focus on education fueled technological improvements in devices beneficial to navigation. Adopting non-European navigational technologies also allowed European sailors to sail out of sight of the coast and overcome immense challenges while at sea. Through these advancements, Europeans were able to establish new trade routes and lower the cost of luxury items like silk, tea, and spices that had been previously transported via the Silk Road. Such items were formerly expensive due to the long and treacherous overland journey, thus motivating Europeans to find a quicker sea route to the East.
All of these factors contributed to the powerful navigation ability of European ships during the Age of Discovery, allowing them to embark on transatlantic journeys that could have been impossible to contemplate in earlier centuries. This age of exploration significantly expanded European trade networks, connecting them with diverse cultures and initiating transformative worldwide exchanges.