The Age of Discovery, Age of Reconnaissance or also known as the Age of Expansion

occurred between 1450 and 1650. European countries like Portugal, Spain, France,
and England were all looking for the shortest and best routes through the Indies
because it would eventually led them to great wealth due to the excess to spices, gold
and silver overseas. The Portuguese was able to be the first to began exploring the
Atlantic coast under the sponsorship of Prince Henry. Although spices, gold and silver
were the main focus of the European's journey of discovery, it was unexpected as they
discovered a whole "New world."

Columbus finally was able to gain support from Spanish Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile
and Ferdinand II of Aragon after several rejects. August 3rd of 1692, three ships: Nina,
Pinta, and the Santa Maria set sails from Pagos. It was months later when Columbus
and his men reached the Caribbean islands. Mistaken it for the Indies, Columbus
named the native inhabitants as "Indians." He soon set sail further along the coast of
the Bahamas and reached Cuba, which he falsely called China. The native inhabitants
were surprisingly generous to Columbus and his men as they served them with food
and sexual favors. Gold and food allowed Columbus and his men to continue as they
discovered Ayti or better known as Hispaniola. He also mistaken Hispaniola for Japan.
Besides Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci and Ferdinand Magellan also contributed in the
discovery of Americas. Their exploration of South America marked the beginning of a
whole new continent and the expansion of the Pacific Ocean.

The exploration of America allow Europeans to introduced America with many new
species of animals, fruits and vegetables. Europe also introduced America with
diseases that eventually caused the deaths of many Native Americans. Despite the
diseases, the Spanish Empire expanded as the Aztecs dominated Central Mexico and
Guatemala. The Aztecs formed when hundreds of civilians came to Lake Texcoco, the
families that came later were forced to go live in swamp lands. The unfortunate families
turned their disadvantages around and formed the Aztecs Empire. The capital of
Aztecs called Tenochititlan was built soon after piping were constructed, bridges were
built and chinapas were developed. The chinapas allowed the Aztecs to grow food
supplies such as: corn, tomatoes, beans, peppers, and even tobacco. The capital was
dictated by many different gods that are known for their speciality. The Aztecs also
were strong believers in human scarification in order to enabled the good gods to
prevent the bad gods from doing evil things. The empire was struck as Hernando
Cortes, a Spanish explorer, led about five hundred men and a horses to Aztec in search
for gold. Through his communication with the Aztec emperor, Moctezuma II, he was
believed to be a god; therefore he was widely respected. Hernando cover up was soon
discover when he was caught melting down the Aztec's golden statues and shipping
them back to Spain. The Aztecs initially tried to attack Henando and his men and
succeed. The Spanish returned in 1520 and attacked Tenochititlan and wiped out the
whole civilization of Aztecs.
Although the initial reason to explore the "Indies" was to bring Spices, gold and silver as
well as discovering the trade routes that could eventually bring Europe with great
wealth, it definitely brought them with a bigger price as they were able to expand their
empire and ruled America for many years. Technology developments also contributed
to their success. With success it was apparent that the change of the economic
systems in Europe sky rocketed. The discovery also led to the cause of Commercial
Revolution that established many new businesses that created all source of income
from trading of goods and gold and silver founded in the New World. With large
amounts of money it eventually led to capitalism.