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What Inspired Europe's Age of Exploration In order for us to explain the driving force behind European age of exploration; we need to remember the socio-political realities that prevailed in Europe at the time. The year 1492 is when Columbus arrived to America, thus opening a whole new continent for European colonization. Yet, nowadays many people forget that is was also a year when Spanish reconquista had finally reached its objective the Pyrenean peninsula was freed from the Arabs. It was a time when Catholic Church started to loosen its grip over peoples minds, which automatically resulted in the rapid advance of philosophy and science. There was too much of a life-force in contemporary Europe, which was becoming harder and harder to contain within the boundaries of Christendom. In 15 th century the average Spanish family would have not less than 3 children.
The birth-rate in Europe at the time reminded the birth rate in contemporary Africa, which unmistakably points out to the fact the European society was at the peak of its biological health. The influence of Christianity over peoples mind was skin deep, as events following the discovery of America had proven. All of the sudden, conquistadors had forgotten about their original mission of spreading the good news among the savages. What really mattered was gold and nothing else. The chimera of Christian morality was being brushed aside. So superior were the Spaniards to the local populations of Aztecs and Incas that they often did not have to apply any considerably effort to conquer vast territories of Indian empires that were populated by millions of people.
Hernan Cortes had a band of 600 foot soldiers, 10 canons and 17 mounted knights. With this pitiful force he was able to conquer the empire of Aztecs within a few months. Francisco Pissaro had in his disposal only 180 men, 27 mounted knights and 2 canons, yet he was able to successfully oppose the army of Incas that accounted for 80 thousands soldiers. It is hard even to imagine that this is not a fairy tale but historical fact. Why aboriginal people of America had so easily given up the fight and were being led to slaughter like sacrificial lambs? There are two answers to this question.
First of all, like any other non-White societies in the history of the world, Aztecs and Incas were totally unaware of the notion of democracy and individualism. Thats why their societies were highly mechanistic. Just like ants in the hive they appear to be to be highly organized on outside, but the ants simply follow certain behavioral algorithms. Once such algorithms are being disrupted, the whole ants society loses its vitality. Exactly the same thing happened to the empires of Incas and Aztecs. Also, Europeans were being thought of as Gods and this automatically made local population vulnerable on metaphysical level.
It is being proven long ago that even before Vikings; the White people had traveled to America. The hawks of political correctness can deny it all they want, but fact remains the fact the images and sculptures of different gods in different cultures bear unmistakable anthropological features of Caucasian. In my opinion, had the exploration age began in our time, the contemporary Europeans would not be able to assimilate vast territories in America with such ease, because they have lost many spiritual qualities of their predecessors. Industriousness, courage and idealism are what enabled Spaniards to subdue aboriginal peoples resistance and not just their superior technology, as many modern historians suggest.
When we apply the notions of morality to different historical events, in many cases we are going to be disgusted by the unnecessary violence that usually accompanied them. Nevertheless, the historical process as a whole is fair, as it only allows the events to follow its natural paths. If some civilization crumbles down under attack of another, it deserves its fate because of being weaker. To conclude this it needs to be said that the significance of the age of exploration in Europe can hardly be overestimated. It was the discovery of America that allowed Western civilization to firmly establish its dominance in the world, which remained unchallenged until the recent times.
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Research essay sample on What Inspired Europe Age Of Exploration
