Sailing greater distances and increasing the scope of exploration was, in part, a function of: (sswh10c) cross outa. increased technological changes like an improved rudder, the compass, and better maps. cross outb. the limited ability of the ottoman turks and others to control overland access to the east. cross outc. the realization that the world was much smaller than had been determined earlier. cross outd. improvements made by the vikings that finally filtered to southern europe.