Calling these voyages exploration can imply movement into an unknown or commercially empty world. Established land and sea routes had already given traders a practical sense of an interconnected globe before circumnavigation provided direct confirmation. European sailors following Africa's coast encountered commerce along much of the route. Their ports of call had served regional and long-distance networks for centuries. European expansion entered maritime systems that predated the voyages.
Notable Point · 13:23-14:34
Oceanic voyages followed existing trade networks
European voyages of discovery entered long-established commercial routes and ports rather than an empty maritime world.