How did the discoveries of early explorers change the way Europeans thought and challenge established ways? (Use at least 3 explorers as examples)

Europeans changed their way of thought due to new Explorers finding new things such as land. Before, all Europeans believed that Europe was the only existing continent, and that the ocean was small. They never knew of The Americas, or any of the islands. But, when explorers such as Spanish Explorer Francisco Pizarro found the Inca Empire, and ruled the Inca until death, Spain got more wealth, and Spain now knows about the territory. When Italian Explorer Christopher Columbus made his expedition to find the East Indies, but instead he found the Carribean Sea, and the Native Aboriginists living there he called "Indians". Without Columbus' discovery, the maps would still show only Europe, and Asia. Today, the Map of the World includes every landmass and Continent, thanks to Columbus. Other explorers like Amerigo Vespucci made a voyage to Brazil, and many others found very interesting things in the New World.  Portuguese Explorer Magellan, found the Strait of Magellan, and even though he died, his men had Circumnavigated the planet. They found out that the oceans were ENORMOUS, and that there was tons of empty land out in the world. Due to this, we got the first idea to how the map is to be scaled. Magellan's men had done a very Extraordinary action, and without Europeans wanting to find Spices, and convert Christianity, the continents may have never been found, and for the modern-day countries such as Bahamas, United States of America, Canada, and the South American countries to be formed. Explorers like Pizarro, Magellan, and Columbus, no matter what brutality took place, had made fascinating discoveries that has benefitted mankind.

Old Map of the World

The Modern Map of the World

CITATIONS:

Old Map: 

Unknown. Old Map of the World. N.d. Europe, Earth. World Maps Online. Web. 12 June 2011.  

New Map:
Unknown. Modern Map of the World. N.d. None, None. Blogspot. Web. 12 June 2011.  

What do you think were the top five motives (reasons) 15th and 16th century Europeans went on voyages of exploration? Explain your answers.

1. The first motive was to find areas rich in a very treasured and cherished material, Spices. Many explorers wanted spices to make their food taste better, and preserve it for longer periods of time. Spices were found in the Spice Islands (Modern-day Indonesia), and the Indian port of Calicut. Vasco da Gama of Portugal for example, had taken over the Indian port of Calicut, and made it part of the Portuguese trading empire.

2. The second motive was to find new lands, and make small countries such as Portugal into empires. For Example, Prince Henry, a Portuguese explorer, hired Scientists, and Carto-graphers (Map-makers), to make maps for the journeys. Prince Henry gave Portugal the island of Madeira, and the Azores, which still belongs to Portugal today. These islands expanded Portugal into an empire. A few make mistakes, and find new lands. An example would be Christopher Columbus finding the modern Americas, which was named on a map by Waldseemuller referring to Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. But, Columbus thought he found India, or the West Indies. That was the Carribean, and it is called the East Indies in his honor.

3. The third motive was to spread language and wealth. For Example, Spaniard Francisco Pizarro, found the Incan Empire, and became their leader by using forces sent by Spain. This is relevant because today, most of South America speaks Spanish, while Brazil speaks Portuguese, and French Guiana speaks French. The Republic of Guiana is an English speaking place, and the Falklands being a British Overseas Territory. Some examples of countries in South America speaking Spanish would be Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia. The Spanish left an enormous legacy in South America, and can be seen in the countries listed, for they share the Spanish language with Spain.

4. The fourth motive was to increase Trading Empires. For Example, Spain wanted the New Land discovered by Christopher Columbus, and Pope Alexander VI set up the Line of Demarcation. which split the World into 2 zones. The West belonged to Spain, and the East belonged to Portugal. This was agreed upon on the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494.

5. The last motive was to get wealthy with slaves. The world Slaves comes from the word "Slavs", which are Southern Russian people who were captured to work for the Romans in the Roman Times. Slaves come from Africa. Africa was a new land. This started when Portugal's trading empire collapsed, due to them not exploring the inner lands of Africa. Kingdoms such as the Asante Kingdom, and the Oyo Empire were born. These lands would give slaves to the Europeans in return for wealth. Slaves would be sent from Africa to work on Plantations, which were enormous estates owned by farmers, and an over-seer. Slaves would work in plantations in Europe and in the Modern-Day United States of America. Slavery made Europe very powerful and wealthy. However, Slavery is not seen in many of those nations anymore.

CITATION FOR IMAGE:

Unknown. Ship in the Moluccas Archipelago. N.d. Unknown, Indonesia. TierraNet. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. 

Link: http://discover-indo.tierranet.com/images/Spice/Spice_Islands_shipExplorer.jpg