What was the Impact of Geographical Discoveries on Europe?

The geographical discoveries made by the explorers from various coun­tries of Europe left a deep impact on the future course of history.

Firstly, it encouraged maritime activities between Europe East and America, and enhanced the potentialities of trade between Europe and the rest of the world.

The Europeans began to import spice and numer­ous luxury items like Indian textiles, Persian carpets etc. from the East in large quantities. Similarly they began to ship huge quantities of fish, fur and timber from America.

On the other hand, they began to export a
number of European manufactured goods to Asia, Africa and America where the various European powers had set up their colonies. This enormous growth in commercial activities led to the creation of credit institutions, commercial banks and other instruments.

Secondly, it led to the rise of mercantile system. Almost all the Euro­pean powers tried to increase their overseas trade at the cost of other powers. They tried to accumulate as much bullion as possible by increas­ing exports and restricting imports.

To attain this objective they subsi­dized home industries and erected high tariff walls. Navigation Acts were passed to boost the shipping industry and every effort was made to extract maximum trade concessions from the defeated enemy.

Thirdly, geographical discoveries paved the way for the rise of colonial­ism and imperialism. After the discovery of new territories, a large num­ber of Europeans emigrated to these territories and carved out their colo­nies. They established their control over these territories and began to rule over the natives.

Such colonies were established by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the English in different parts of Asia, Africa and America. These colonial powers resorted to systematic exploitation of the local natives and their colonies. Often the colonial powers imposed restrictions on these colonies not to trade with other foreign countries and tried to exploit their economies to promote the interests of the mother country.

Often these colonies were asked not to manufacture goods which were produced by the mother country so that they could not offer any competition to the manufactures of the mother country.

Fourthly, as a result of these discoveries the Europeans came in con­tact with the people of Asia, Africa and America and began to import numerous luxury items, metals, and precious stones etc which greatly con­tributed to the enrichment of the western civilization.

Fifthly, the European discoveries established the superiority of the West over East. The Western powers asserted superiority of their culture and civilization and tried to impose the same after uprooting the indige­nous civilization.

Sixthly, geographical discoveries paved the pay for the spread of Chris­tianity in the new lands. The Christian missionaries followed the traders and flag in various colonies and began to convert people to Christianity by all types of temptations and threats.

Seventhly, geographical discoveries accentuated commercial rivalry amongst the European powers and led to numerous colonial wars among these powers. Such wars were fought by the Portuguese and the Dutch; the Spaniards and the French; and the French and the English in various parts of Asia, Africa and America.

It has rightly been observed that the conflicting interests and mutual rivalries of the European powers supply the key to the many of the Euro­pean wars of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Eighthly, the geographical discoveries widened the mental outlook of the Europeans which greatly contributed to the enrichment of art and sciences and contributed to the all round progress of man.

Ninthly, the discovery of Atlantic Sea, as a result of the geographical explorations provided a new searoute to the East and soon it became the chief highway of commerce. With this the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea, which had served as the chief sea-routes for commerce, suffered in importance.

With the discovery of Atlantic Sea new ports like Lisbon, London, Amsterdam gained in prominence at the cost of old ports of Mediterranean and Baltic Seas.

Tenthly, geographical explorations paved the way of the emergence of absolute monarchies in Europe. The middle classes which gained in im­portance due to expansion of commerce, made huge finances available to the kings and thereby enable them to free themselves of the control of feudal lords.

As a result, the monarchs in most parts of Europe succeeded in establishing their absolute rule.

Eleventhly, it led to the decline of Italy as a commercial power. Before the geographical discoveries, “Rome was the hub of the universe, Venice and Genoa the emporium of its trade, and Florence the home of its arts letters.

All men’s eyes looked toward Italy, but now there came an aver­sion of gaze.” Mediterranean lost its importance, trade and commerce began to be carried on through other oceans. The importance of the countries open to the Atlantic such as Spain and Portugal greatly increased and their ports became the outlets towards a vast New World.

Twelfthly, as a result of these discoveries large scale trade and com­merce gained currency. As these commercial and trading activities could not be financed by individual traders out of their limited resources, or through finance from the small money-lenders, it led to the rise of Joint Stock Companies and banking houses.

Finally, the discovery of new lands and their colonization gave rise to the nefarious practice of slave trade. For the development of new lands the colonial powers needed cheap labour which led to the rise of slave trade.

It has been rightly observed, “The trade in African negroes was fathered by the English captain Hawkins and fostered alike by the Dutch and the English”.