1) I suppose that it would be sensible to consider European to be benefited most from social, technological, and economic change from 1200 to 1500. I think so because during this period of time there was invented a lot of progressive mechanical devices such as water wheels and windmills, even though it was very expensive, the Europe assumed such responsibility and got a nice profit eventually.
2) One of the major environmental and technological factors which led Spain and Portugal to explore new trade routes in the Atlantic was a plan to find a shorter hence more economical trade route. They tried to find a shorter route than rounding Africa.
