The impact of the printing press, astrolabe, and caravel on 16th-century Europe demonstrates the ability of technology to "<span>redefine human understanding of the world"</span>
Europeans were originally motivated to explore the seas to discover previously unknown lands, especially after the contact with America, where europeans found all kind of valuable goods. The portuguese were the first to pursue maritime exploration, soon to be followed by the spaniards.
Abraham Lincoln is my answer
