Question

The expanding of European economies increased trade with markets in Asia. The loss of this capital in 1453, European nations began to look to the Atlantic for new routes?

a) Constantinople
b) Rome
c) Madrid
d) Paris

Answer 1

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 led Europeans to seek new trade routes to Asia, resulting in the Age of Exploration. Nations like Portugal and Spain turned to the Atlantic, initiating global trade and the era of European colonial empires.

Step-by-step explanation:

After the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire in 1453, European nations began to search for new routes to Asia. The loss of Constantinople, a critical hub in East-West trade, meant that Europeans had to find alternative paths to access the prized goods of South and East Asia. This propelled the Age of Exploration, as nations like Portugal and Spain looked towards the Atlantic Ocean for maritime routes that would bypass the need to trade through Ottoman-controlled territories.

The Portuguese, under the guidance of figures such as Prince Henry the Navigator, took the lead in this venture. They explored southwards along the African coast, seeking a sea route to India and the Spice Islands. Eventually, this exploration led to discoveries that fundamentally changed the economic and political landscapes of the world, ushering in the era of global trade and colonial empires. Strong economic growth in Europe, burgeoning capitalism, and a lust for gold, silver, and spices from the East were significant drivers of these expeditions and the maritime trade that followed.