Common Question about Early American History

Chapter One
1. What developments in Europe created an interest in exploration by 1492?
By 1492, advances in navigation and naval architecture created an interest in exploration. The compass was adopted by the Europeans along with calculating latitude by using the quadrant, an instrument that measured the altitude of the polestar or the noonday sun and the astrolabe, an instrument that calculates the position of the sun and other major nearby stars with respect to both the horizon and the meridian. The advancement of ship design also created an interest in navigation by 1492. A method, called "tacking", enabled the vessel to sail against the wind, making ships more maneuverable and stable. Gunpowder was the last invention that the Europeans needed to go conquer the New World. Gun powder was first discovered after 1000 AD and was used to propel missiles from cannons, but as time moved on it was used in a hand held weapon that resembled the modern gun. …