How did the center of European trade change during the age of European exploration?
It developed around city-states such as Genoa and Venice.
It began to shift from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
It became based on spice trading from India via Pacific sea routes.
It shifted to overland routes throughout West Africa as a result of the slave trade.
The center of European trade changed during the age of European exploration in several ways. One major change was the shift from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. This shift was due to the exploration and colonization of the Americas, which opened up new trade opportunities for European powers.
Prior to the age of exploration, the center of European trade was largely based in city-states such as Genoa and Venice. These cities dominated trade routes in the Mediterranean and were major players in the trade of goods from Europe to the Middle East and Asia.
However, as European explorers began to sail westwards in search of new trade routes, the focus of European trade shifted to the Atlantic Ocean. The discovery of the Americas and the establishment of colonies there brought about the Atlantic slave trade, which became a major driver of European commerce. The exploitation of resources in the Americas, such as gold, silver, and sugar, also shifted trade from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic.
Another change in the center of European trade was the development of new sea routes to Asia. European powers sought to bypass the Ottoman Empire, which controlled key trade routes to the East. This led to the exploration of new routes, such as the search for a direct sea route to India. This ultimately led to the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope by Bartholomeu Dias in 1488, and the subsequent establishment of Portuguese trade routes in the Indian Ocean.
However, it is important to note that the spice trade from India did not become the dominant center of European trade during the age of exploration. While the European powers did establish trading posts and colonies in Asia, particularly in areas such as India and the East Indies, the trade in spices alone did not surpass the significance of the Atlantic trade.
Overall, the age of European exploration led to significant shifts in the center of European trade, with the Mediterranean losing prominence to the Atlantic Ocean, and new trade routes being established in the Americas and Asia.