Before the Age of Exploration, most Western Europeans only knew about the European continent. Travel and trade were difficult and dangerous before the Age of Exploration. Few maps existed and few people could read or write. However, with the Age of Exploration, Western Europeans began to explore “new” lands. Western Europeans began to seek adventure and travel. The Age of Exploration began in the 1400s. Questions:
1- Why did most Western Europeans know little about other continents before the 1400s?

2- What happened in the 1400s to change this lack of knowledge?