The world setting prior to 1500

¶ … rise of the Renaissance and the great explorative journeys of Christopher Columbus, the world pre-1500 hardly considered Europe the center of innovation and cultural domination, much less economic and intellectual center. The focus of the world's attentions was focused on several diverse geographic dimensions depending on both the time period and the cultural region. China for instance was one of the most significant regions of cultural, intellectual and economic change and dynamic growth. For most of the millennium, China was considered far ahead of its peers in terms of cultural and intellectual change. It had a consistent system of law, and advances in technology that far outstripped Europe and their counterparts. Following the opening of the Silk Road, Europe was finally able to discover the riches in innovation and the cultural dominance of China. Marco Polo in his famous accounts detailed the riches that were able to collect in China as well as technology and development far superior to Europe. It could be said that China was the central hub of all activity in the Asian Major and Minor areas. Another major world center was in the land of Islam, the Persian Empire and Ottoman Empire dominated much of Eastern Europe and what we now call the Middle East. Cities such as Mecca were both trade centers where barters from the entire world traveled to make both spiritual and commercial journeys. It was considered one of the cultural centers of the world because of its holy nature within Islamic religion, and as a result it held significance as an intellectual center as well. Another major center of activity dating all the way to the earlier millennium was Rome itself. Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire and later the head of the Roman Catholic Church was a significant center even before the 1500s. Its significance lied in that it provided central access to both Western and East Europe. Its central locale and historical significance made it one of the commercial and cultural centers of the world.

Europe at the time was hardly considered an enlightened region. Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, infighting over territory and sanctity of nation states caused Europe to be embroiled in turmoil. The "Dark Ages" saw the end of major cultural and intellectual development as many written documentation was lost and education was exchanged for warmongering. As a result, codified law was never universally accepted in Europe and the lack of significant change made it highly chaotic and explosive. Pre-1500 no apparent cities were viewed as a world center, and as a result, Europe was considered "barbarian" too much of the advanced empires of the time. Major advances within Europe prior to the explosion of innovation in the 1500s was created in Religion, where several influential figures such as Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustus all created monumental religious documents that still reverberate in Christendom. Other individuals that shined within this period such as the invention of the Gutenberg press and the brilliant painters of Italy were overshadowed by the consistent warfare between nation states. Overall however, Europe was viewed with low esteem due to its constant division and inability to establish proper laws and order within their own borders. The lack of civility alienated Europe to many of the established Empires of the time and relationships were never built with their neighbors the Ottoman Empire. The Atlantic Region in general experience severe change in the wake of the Roman collapse. Up to the 1500s, the status that it gained through the Roman Empire had been largely eroded.

The Maritime Revolution occurred at the turn of the 1500s and began in full swing around 1550. It was started by many nation states within Europe at roughly the same time. Spain and England were the two early contributors to the Maritime Revolution, and many other European states soon followed. The Tudors of England and Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand of Spain were the main drivers behind this revolution. For the first time, Spain had complete control over its government following the union of Ferdinand and Isabella, in the wake of peace they turned their sites to new conquests the expansion of Spanish control. As a result, the Maritime Revolution occurred as Europe hastened to explore the world to discover unknown territories and new outlets for commerce. Spain was the first to sponsor such expeditions with the most famous being Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the Americas. Columbus's predecessors such as Vasca de Gama circumvented the coasts of Africa and brought about rich trade within the region. Their contributions were significant to the expansion of Europe into the forefront of world commercial centers. Up to this point, individual continents and empires were isolated as a result of the lack of trade venues. The expansion of the Maritime Revolution allowed for opening of trade routes with many different locales which both allowed Europe to gain in stature as well as wealth. England was also one of the powerhouses of the Maritime Revolution, the establishment of the English Navy and the funding of major explorations allowed them to be highly successful in claiming territories in both Asia Minor and Africa, and later on in the Americas. Other players within the Maritime Revolution include the Dutch, which played a significant role in island exploration as well as the Americas. France also as a major player in the Maritime Revolution in keeping since with their neighbors. The reason that some states were able to participate in the Revolution while others did not was both a combination of chance and desire. Many countries such as the Ottoman Empire were situated mostly inland and did not devote the resources to develop technology and a credible armada. Asia in specific never took the opportunity to expand their navy simply because they already had too much land on their individual continent. All of this allowed Europe to take advantage of this golden age of exploration and thrust itself into the center of the world's governing hierarchy.