In the late 1400"s, political, economic, social, cultural and technological changes made the Europeans explore the African coast and cross the Atlantic Ocean.Portuguese explored the coast of Africa and found a route to Asia.Later Spain sent Colombus to sail west to find a short cut to India because the trips were too expensive and he ended up finding the New World, which was America. These explorations led to convergence of cultures in North America, Africa as well as the European nations. .

             Europeans were encouraged to explore voyages because of a desire to find a new route to riches of Asia and a curiosity about the world.Europeans used compass and an astrolabe as a new technology to navigate, gunpowder to make them more confident.European desire for goods grew as a result of Crusades, but long trips made it expensive. Italian monopoly with the Arab traders led the other European countries to seek new routes to get around the monopoly.Spain and Portugal led the way in exploration.Portugal sent explorers down the coast of Africa.As a result of that later Vasco de Gama reached India.In Spain, Queen Isabella sent Colombus to go west and find shorter route to India, instead he discovered the New World.The discovery of new lands led Europeans to set up colonies.In the order of wealthiest and the size of the empire Spain, Portugal, England, France, Holland were the leading colonial powers.Explorations led to increase of power and competition for colonies that led to war among them. Christianity and culture were spread.Europeans mistreated natives because of ethnocentrism.Because of Europeans coming to the New World new diseases were discovered which led many natives to die and so Europeans made Africans to come as the slaves.This led to harmful effect on the development of Africa. Colombus"s voyages had profound effect on Europe too.Merchants and monarchs saw a chance to increase their wealth and influence as well as power.