DISCOVERY OF NEW SEA ROUTES

DISCOVERY OF NEW SEA ROUTES Cape of Good Hope Malindi AUSTRALIA E W N S Not to Scale Columbus Vasco da Gama Magellan Cabot Modern World: The Age of Reason Victoria) with sailors returned to Seville in . Vittoria was the first ship that ever circumnavigated the world. Turks, French, English, and Germans had not yet realised the significance of the new sea routes to Asia. They were yet to understand the political importance of the European discovery of America. Hernan Cortes, a Spanish Conquistador, with a mere handful of men conquered the Empire of Mexico for Spain. Pizarro crossed the Isthmus of Panama ( ) and subjugated another country Peru, destroying the Inca Empire in south America. Other Important European Expeditions Following in the footsteps of the Portuguese and the Spanish seafarers, other European countries started exploring the world. John Cabot, an Italian explorer, was commissioned by England to find new lands across the globe. On his voyage he saw Canada and made it an English colony. Giovanni da Verrazano, another Italian, explored the lands for the French. He annexed provinces for the French in eastern Canada. An English explorer named Henry Hudson wanted to find the passage from North America to the Pacific Ocean. Though he failed in his initiative, he explored the region which now bears his name – Hudson River. Due to the rising competition from England, there was conflict between Spain and England. Francis Drake annexed California region for the English, despite protests from Spain. This led to war between the two nations. In King Philip II of Spain sent an armada or Spanish fleet of vessels and , soldiers to invade England. However, the English with their easily manoeuvrable fleet easily destroyed the Spanish Armada. This marked the rise of the British as an important power in modern world.