Final answer:
Before the Age of Discovery, Europe and Asia experienced technological advancements that would enable Europe's Age of Discovery, including maritime innovations in Spain and Portugal and continued economic and technological development in the Ming Dynasty of China.
Step-by-step explanation:
Technological Advances in Europe and Asia Before the Age of Discovery
The period before the Age of Discovery was marked by significant advancements in both Europe and Asia that would later facilitate expansive explorations. In Europe, Spain and Portugal thrived due to their strategic locations on the Iberian Peninsula, fostering advancements in maritime technology and exploration. After being influenced by the Islamic world, both kingdoms emerged eager to extend their trade routes and influence across the world. Innovations such as the windmill and the studies of optics played critical roles in propelling Europe out of the Middle Ages.
Meanwhile, in Asia, the Chinese during the Ming Dynasty continued to experience economic prosperity and technological growth, producing goods highly sought after by European markets. However, unlike the European counterparts, China maintained its independence without undergoing large-scale explorations like those in Europe.
The global trade networks expanded during the Early Modern Era, laying the groundwork for a connected world influenced by the movement of goods, ideas, and cultural practices. This era of change set the stage for the later Age of Discovery, where European nations, especially Spain and Portugal, used their technological insights in navigation to embark on transatlantic voyages that would redraw the world map.