The voyages of discovery undertaken by European powers during the fifteenth century marked a major turning point in the history of the modern world. They were not isolated journeys undertaken merely out of curiosity or geographical interest. Rather, they were closely connected with the expansion of European trade, the search for new commercial routes, the growth of state power, religious ambitions and the emerging processes of overseas colonization. In the context of the Rise of the Modern West, these voyages represented an important stage in the transition from a predominantly Mediterranean-centred European economy to an increasingly Atlantic-oriented world economy. At the same time, they initiated forms of European expansion that profoundly affected Africa, Asia and the Americas. The background to these voyages can be traced to the economic and political changes taking place in Europe during the later Middle Ages. European merchants increasingly sought access to the profitable trade in spices, silk, precious metals and other luxury goods from Asia and the East. Much of this trade passed through Muslim-controlled territories and Mediterranean commercial centres such as Venice and Genoa. The Ottoman expansion and the consolidation of Ottoman control over important eastern Mediterranean routes encouraged western European states to search for alternative routes to Asian markets. The desire to obtain eastern commodities without relying heavily on established intermediaries became an important stimulus for exploration. The growth of European commerce also created a demand for gold and silver. European economies were becoming increasingly monetized, while states required greater financial resources for warfare, administration and political competition. The search for gold, particularly in Africa, therefore became an important motive behind Portuguese exploration. Commercial ambitions were accompanied by political rivalry. The emergence of stronger monarchies in Portugal and Spain provided the financial and organizational resources required for expensive maritime expeditions. Royal sponsorship transformed exploration from individual commercial ventures into instruments of state policy. Technological developments made long-distance exploration increasingly possible. European sailors adopted and improved several navigational techniques and technologies, including the magnetic compass,