The Age of Exploration: Europe's Commerce and Classes

The spirit of discovery in the Renaissance will push Europe to expand its trade horizons and reshape its economy. On today’s episode, we’ll address the following questions:

1. What were the technological innovations in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries that made long-distance sailing easier?
2. Why did Portugal, of all countries, become a dominant force in expanding European trade in the East?
3. How did the Age of Exploration completely pull Europe out of a feudal economic system and into an era of mercantilism?