Europe expanded in the 15th and 16th century due to exploration and conquering of territory, mainly on other continents. Advances in learning and technology increased Europe's ability to do so, creating an efficient means of exploration and technology to aid it. Of those advances most important to Europe's conquest, a few are the establishment of a navigational school, development of artillery on naval ships, reform of naval battle tactics to produce a more powerful force, and new technology that greatly extended range on the open sea.

Portugal perhaps played the biggest part in exploration and trade throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1415, Prince Henry the Navigator participated in the capture of the North African port of Ceuta from the Muslims. This conquest spurred his interest in Africa and inspired him to sponsor a navigational school in Lisbon and many expeditions that aimed not only on developing trade...