Discovery of the Americas, 1492-1800

profitable routine of seasonal travel to trading
ports in India and the South China Sea. By
1492 many Asians and Arabians were well
aware of Europe because of long-standing
overland contacts. However, they had little
interest in making any sea voyages beyond
their immediate regions for a variety of politi-
cal and religious reasons, as well as the fact
that Asian and Arabian trade routes were
already prosperous and not in need of further
development. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of
the Western Hemisphere—what would soon
become known as the Americas—remained

completely unknown to the rest of the world.

Similarly, the rest of the world was unknown

to the people of the Americas. Afew Native

American cultures, such as the Maya and the

Inca, possessed vessels used for coastal trade,

but none capable of crossing oceans. Believ-

ing that they dominated the center of the

world, the most advanced Native American

civilizations had never had contact with cul-

tures far beyond the borders of their own

empires. This was about to change.

Europeans had read descriptions of the

empires and wealth of Asia in Venetian

The World in 1492 B 11

Based on Ptolemy’s writings, this map was published in 1492 and shows the world as known to ancient Greeks
and Romans. Before the discovery and exploration of the Americas, this map was probably considered an
authoritative geographical source. (Library of Congress)