Final answer:
Trade routes between Europe and China changed in the 15th century due to the costly and slow overland Silk Road and the rise of European exploration seeking faster and safer sea routes. This led to a shift from overland to maritime trade, establishing new global trade networks and marking the beginning of the Age of Exploration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exploration and Maritime Trade in the 15th Century
By the 15th century, Europe's trade routes to China underwent significant changes due to multiple factors. The overland Silk Road was expensive and slow due to taxes and fees by Muslim middlemen, as well as the risks of robbery and conflict along the way. Europeans, motivated by a desire for lucrative trade goods such as spices, silk, and precious stones, invested in maritime explorations to find alternative routes to Asia. Furthermore, the advent of the Renaissance sparked an increased interest in art and science, fueling progress in navigation and shipbuilding. European countries such as Portugal and Spain led the Age of Exploration, seeking new trade routes and subsequently discovering the New World. This marked a shift from overland to sea routes and initiated global trade networks.
China, during this period, controlled valuable markets including spices, tea, and porcelain, but eventually moved to a silver-based monetary system, necessitating significant imports of silver. Concurrent European exploration of Mesoamerica allowed them to fulfill this demand, altering the balance of trade in their favor. The new goods and wealth brought by the Europeans influenced the Chinese economy, and in turn, these explorations accelerated the development of a more connected global economy.