Answer:
compass, ship sailing,speculating by use of maps where one could possibly go to at least explore the unseen, and literature currently written about others travels in new or unknown , areas. once read about the area could conceptually be explored the thing is tools needed compass , and navigation knowledge.
They wanted to avoid working with Muslim middle-men who would take part of the profit for supplying them with Asian goods. They developed naval travel to travel on their own and increase their profit.i hope this helps
I would have to go with Completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869
