For centuries explorers have been enticed by the wonders of the unknown, mythical cities and lands of gold.

The Golden Era of Discovery, or Age of Exploration is one of the most important events in the history of the western world and it was made possible with technological advancements that were important to this age. These were the adoption of the magnetic compass and advances in ship design.

The Era began in the early 15th century and continued until the end of the 17th century, and involved European explorers using their navigational skills to travel the world seeking new trade routes to distant trading partners in the Far East. Routes by land were slow whilst the sea offered quicker routes and larger cargos without the risk of brigands.

The Age of Exploration is considered to have occurred mostly with English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Dutch and Italian explorers. These countries had ports and plenty of sea faring expertise allowing them to venture into the unknown.

China also had an Age of Exploration under the Yongle Emperor with Admiral Zheng He who lead some of the world’s largest fleets at this time containing 317 with 28,000 crew. But with the death of the Yongle Emperor in 1424 China ceased its exploration and focused on its own dynasties.