自13世紀到16世紀以來，歐洲的航行有著十分重大的進步，他們影響了世界的發展。歐洲通過海洋來探索世界是一個復雜的活動，他們帶來的東西包括經濟條件下的資本主義萌芽，他們跨越障礙，通過經濟路線來傳播科學和宗教。本文就是從社會、文化、經濟的角度上探索歐洲航行的優點和不足之處。有些學者否定其價值，但是筆者卻逐漸發現，歐洲的航行扮演了十分重要的角色。

 
首先,歐洲探險家齊格勒-本特利通過那些跟隨他們的人之間的聯系,建立了各地的世界的聯系。各國人民之間相互作用形成文化交流，那個時候，歐洲的商人主要探索航行用于交易。他們逐漸在全球建立了網絡貿易和渠道，如伽馬,從齊格勒-本特利和,他的探險隊打開了陸地和海岸之間的大門。

During the 13th and 16th, the European voyages of discovery have a great impact on the world’s development. The reasons why European explore the world’s ocean are that a complex combination of motives prompted them, including the Commodity Economy, the seeds of capitalism, the sought of the gold, the obstacle of the economic routes by Ottoman Empire, the progress of scientific technology and the spreading of religious. From the perspective of the society, culture and economic, it can be seen that the advantages of European voyages of discovery more than the disadvantages. Some people did not believe that, for the behavior spent lots of money and wasted time. As for me, I confirm that the European voyages of discovery has an increasingly by important role in the future.
 

First, Bentley and Ziegler argued European explorers and those who follow their established links between all lands and people of the world. Interaction between peoples in turn resulted in an unprecedented volume of exchange across the boundary lines of societies and cultural regions (2003, P. 629). At that time, European merchants fortified trading of the voyages of exploration. They had established globe-girdling networks of trade and communication. Such as Vasco Da Gama, from Bentley and Ziegler, his expedition opened the door to maritime trade between European and Asian peoples. During his voyages, he carried cargoes of Gold, pearls, wool textiles, bronzeware, iron tools and many other goods that he hoped to exchange for pepper and spices. It’s really a good opportunity to trade. And in India’s markets of Calicut, it also has rubies, emeralds and so on goods, Da Gama bought little among merchants, it made him turned a handsome profit. It helped to establish permanent links between the worlds’ various regions said by Bentley and Ziegler (2003, PP. 607-608). Besides, Christopher Columbus who discovery a new land also had a huge contribution to the society. Now, American is a leader country in the world, it has strong strength. American is one of the most influential countries in today’s world.#p#分頁標題#e#
 

Second, the exploration brought economic development to the whole world. “The expansion of European spreading the plants, animals, diseases and human communities followed European ventures across the oceans, and intricate tread networks gave birth to a global economy” (Bentley & Ziegler, 2003, P. 608). Because of Marco polo, many European merchants caught opportunity to buy silk, spices and pepper to take in the flourishing trade of Asia .It can bring many profits for the businessmen in European. In practice, Dom Henrique, who often called Prince Henry of Portugal, he was one of the Navigators to enter the gold trade in West Africa. He believed that the new trade routes were a profitable market (Bentley & Ziegler, 2003). As the navigator Vasco Da Gama replied: “Christians and Spices” (Bentley & Ziegler 2003, P. 610).From that we can see the Portugal’s economic development that led by expedition. And he wanted to take them to his own country even to Europe and open up a large marketing. “The goal of spreading Christianity thus became a powerful justification and reinforcement for the more material motives for the voyages of exploration” (Bentley & Ziegler, 2003, P. 610). So it was an important part of the voyages. However, the commercial revolution changed the businessmen’s positions. Besides, although in the ancient world, they were treated as vulgar or venal, with the progress of society, the postage of merchants improved, and they got more respected (Kumin, 2009). Therefore, it was the voyages of exploration that was the key point of the moral improvement in the world.
 

Third, during the era from 1000 to 1500 C.E. “Long-distance travel of all kinds, whether for commercial, political, diplomatic, or missionary purpose, encouraged cultural exchanges between peoples of different societies.” Bentley and Ziegler explained (2003, P. 582). By the European navigation, these views on some scientific knowledge or other viewpoints had been developed in a literature times. As we all know, Four Great Inventions were created by China, including the magnetic compass. Then through the voyages, the compass spread to the Indian Ocean basin. Moreover, by the mid-twelfth century, European mariners started to use it in the maritime trade and exploration, which helped them arrived their country safely and it was convenient to the course of voyages. At the same time, a quantity of travelers promoted the growth of agricultural (Bentley & Ziegler, 2003). In short, culture has a big development at that time.
 

On the other hand, the European voyages of discovery still have some disadvantages. For example, the number of fleets in the exploration increased, and cost the thousands of money. Similarly, the voyages last several centuries, it was really take too long time. Moreover, during the discovery, it also happen some bad things. Magellan was an example, he was killed by indigenous people in a scuffle. And when Magellan with his crewman across the Pacific Ocean, the diseases named Scuruy killed twenty-nine members of his crew (Bentley & Ziegler, 2003).#p#分頁標題#e#
 

To sum up, it is obvious seen that the European voyages of discovery has in many good aspects and stimulate the world’s progress. Yet it had brought people pains and destruction, we could not deny it in all. Through the exploration, people find that the earth is round. It’s important to everyone to know what the real geographical position when we may well go to the other countries easily. And the effects reflect in everywhere in our life, especially advanced technology and cultural exchanges in nowadays. Therefore, we should say that without the exploration, our society would not have today’s achievement.

References

Bentley, J. H., and Ziegler, H. F. (2003). Traditions & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the past, Volume B: From 1000 to 1800 (Second Edition). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Kumin , B. (Ed). (2009). The European world 1500-1800: An introduction to early modern history. London; New York: Routledge.