Chapter 13 Part I

Europe had a significant advantage due to its geographic location unlike the other continents. This allowed the Europeans and their empires to expand across the Americas. Countries along the Atlantic rim of Europe were much closer to the Americas than any competitors, specifically the Asians. Travelling by sea was a challenge for many because of the fixed winds, but after studying the winds closely it provided an alternate route into the Americas. The study of the fixed winds of the Atlantic Ocean did not only enable them to build empires in the Americas but also the idea of the thorough navigation, ship design and mapmaking. The motivation of the Europeans to not only explore, but to create new ship designs and maps allowed them to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to fend for their scattered empires.