Question

Develop an argument that evaluates the extent to which European overseas expansion in this period (late fifteenth, early sixteenth centuries) relies on previously existing technologies and new technologies.
This is an essay question but I just need a decent thesis statement.

Answer 1

While the European expansion overseas during the late fifteenth, early sixteenth centuries relied on previously existing technologies to some extent, it was significantly more dependent on new technologies. This is evident when we look at the type of technology that explorers relied on the most. These items include the astrolabe, the magnetic compass, the caravel, the sextant and Mercator's projection, all of which were examples of new technology developed during the Age of Exploration.