Bihar Board Class 9 History TextBook

Chapter-1

Geographical Discoveries
Sea voyages and geographical explorations constitute important place
among the epoch-making incidents of the world history. The incidents which
have played the decisive role in heralding the modern age include these
geographical discoveries as well. The scientific advancement and economic
development especially the trade developments that began in the last phase
of the middle age formed the background. The European countries played
the leading role because of which they were able to dominate in the modern
age. It is another issue that the countries such as Spain and Portugal which
initiated the geographical exploration gradually lagged behind and other
countries such as England, Holland, France and then Germany registered new
success in the field of geographical discoveries.
We know that trade and commerce have been chief source of mutual
contact from the days of early civilizations of the world. This trade took place
through a specific route. These routes
Marco Polo, a Portuguese
were often used between Europe and traveller, in his travelogue has
Asia even in the ancient and middle mentioned the prosperity of the
ages. However, there were several Vijay Nagar empire and the
regions in the world which had human grandeur of the court of Kubla
Khan, the Chinese ruler.
habitats but remained out of contact
with the rest of the world. These
included America, Africa, Australia and some other parts of Asia. Although in
the 13th centuries the travelogues covering the journeys via India till China
did make the Europeans aware of the prosperity of South-East Asia but with
little impact. In due course, the large scale geographical explorations and the
subsequent achievements paved the way for the modern age.
World of History :: 1