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The black death was a huge outbreak of the bubonic plague that was carried by fleas from infected rats. The plague started in Europe and spead through the trade routes. It killed 25 million people, which is one-third of the population. It also stop exploration for a very long time.
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In the second century the geographer Ptolomey created a map, it was later rediscovered in western Europe. It became the best existing map of the world. This was the map that led Columbus to believe that Asia can be reached by sailing west from Europe.
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Prince Henry organized a School of Navigation, this allowed for people to become informed before they went on voages. Also a base for explorations on Cape St. Vincent was created in Portugal.
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A fast sailing ship called a caravel was first built. Also for the first time an Asian ship entered the Atlantic Ocean by rounding the Cape of Good Hope.
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The Guttenberg Bible was the first item of lititure to be printed on a printing press with movable type. This allowed books to be less expensive and let knowledge spread very quickly.
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The first auction of black slaves was the begining to a long hard road for future blacks. This took place in Portugal.
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Navigation using the stars is greatly improved over earlier eras. This improved the chances of not getting lost, so more was discovered.
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Columbus discovered the West Indies in the New World. He also learned that as the longitude changes the compass changes slightly. Also in this year the last of the Muslims were drived from Spain.
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Amerigo Vespucchi explored the coast of South America and decided that it was a New Continent. This was a new thought considering before this time South America was considered part of Asia.
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Balboa crosses the Isthmus of Pamama. When he made this journey he was amazed to discover the Pacific Ocean. Also in this year Ponce de Leon landed in Florida.
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Magellan's voage became the first voage to make it all he way around the world. This opened the oppertunity to other explorers to atempt this trip as well.
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Nicholas Copernicus published a book that stated that the earth and the other planets revolved around the sun. Andreas Vesalius published the first human anatomy book that was accurate.
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The city of Saint Augustine in Flordia was discovered and founded. The city was found by the Spanish.
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The habit of smoking tobacco was imported from Virginia to England. It was first brought to England by Sir Walter Raleigh.
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Jamestown was established in Virginia bringing more people to the New World. This settlement was set up by the English.
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Each of these events impacted exploration in some way. Some such as the Black Plague prohibited it,but most of them helped it. I chose the events because a lot of them allowed for exploration to be easeir,like technology improvements. Another reason these were imoprtant is because whenever someone discovers something new it enchourages others to do the same. That is why I thought the discovery and technology events were important.
