What are the circumstances led to Geographical Discoveries, and what are the results of Geographical discoveries?

 

 

Question: What are the circumstances led to Geographical Discoveries, and what are the results of Geographical discoveries?

Ans: In 1453 A.D. Turks occupied the city, Constantinople. With this Europeans lost international trade contact with eastern countries. Only Venetians had trade relations with Europeans and Turks and due to this they became immensely rich. European nations were enviously observing this.

As Venetians had monopoly over trade on land route, Portugal and Spain had to search for a sea route to Eastern countries. Marco polo in his book, ‘My Travels’, described the richness of India. The European kings and traders s who read the book started dreaming of trade with India. Some of them started expedition to India on sea.

2. Situation before Geographical Discoveries: Byzantine Empire was founded by Constantine I. Sultan Mohammad II of Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453. India, China, Srilanka and Eastern countries were rich in pearls, spices and silk. Muslim kings became rich by buying these goods and trading with Europe.

1. Constantinople is located in Eastern Europe, on the banks of Black sea. Presently we are calling it Istanbul. Constantinople was the capital of Byzantine Empire. As Turks captured Constantinople in the year 1453 A.D., land route was blocked to India for Europeans. This situation forced them to search for a sea route to India. 

2. Marco Polo in his books ‘My Travels’ described the richness of East. His writings turned the attention of Europeans towards Atlantic Ocean.

3.  A 14^th century book named ‘A Merchant Hand Book’ gave details about sea routes to East. Based on that book, merchants of Europe started discovering sea routes to East.

4. The sea voyage experiences of Amerigo Vespucci, increased curiosity among the sailors.

5. Ptolemy declared that the circumference of earth is 18,000 miles / 28,985 kilometers.  (Actually it is 24,901 miles / 40,075 km).  Scientists from Alexandria University declared that earth is circular.

6. To establish the truth of Copernicus theory, Galileo (1564 - 1642) invented Telescope.

7. ‘Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica’ was authored by Isaac Newton (1642 – 1727).

8. As Turks occupied Constantinople in 1453 and captured all the land routes to India.

9. During medieval period Italian countries Venice and Genoa had monopoly over trade with East.

10. Vasco Da Gama entered reached India on 17-05-1498. An Arabian traveler named ‘Abdul Wazid’ helped Vasco Da Gama in his voyage to India. Raja Manu Vikrama Varma Zamorin was the king of Kerala when Vacho Da Gama reached India. Zamorin means Lord of the Sea. (Portuguese samorim, from Malayalam sāmūri, from sāmudri lord of the sea, from Sanskrit samudra ocean,)

Thus Europeans started coming to India. From this day onwards Europeans started frequently visiting India.