Introduction
European exploration is the vital element of the world development, as it contributes to the formation of the world’s image. Furthermore, various factors such as the political and economic relationship between the countries, diseases, development of the routes, and availability of the information have the influence on the ability to explore the different lands (Davies, 2004). Nonetheless, the primary focus of this research paper is to discover the impact of the diseases and illnesses on the ability to explore European countries, as this matter is an interesting question for discussion in the modern world.
The core goal of the paper is to determine the correlation between the European exploration and infections in the 1500s. In this instance, the rationale for the problem statement is defined to assess the relevant matters, which determine the essence of the topic’s research. In turn, the methodology is described, and the reasoning for the utilization of the literature review is provided. In turn, the literature review focuses on the divergent perspectives while depicting the correlation between the diseases and discoveries in Europe during this timeframe. In the end, the conclusions are drawn to determine the implications and evaluate the findings of the study.
Research Questions and Problematizing
Nonetheless, it is apparent that the current articles and researches do not focus on the establishment of the topic regarding the timeframe of the 1500s. The presence of this matter defines the necessity of the examination in this field, as the topic is rather novel and interesting. Additionally, it will depict the image of European exploration and portray the findings within the particular period. Lastly, in this instance, the research question can be formulated as ‘Did the diseases and illnesses have a high influence on the development of geography and define the presence of the discoveries and exploration before the 1500s?’. In this case, the right methodology will be chosen to collect information about this issue while highlighting the essentiality of the future study. In turn, it is vital to determine the primary disease, which took place before the 1500s, evaluate the presence of the discoveries in the world, and determine the correlation between these sections.
Methodology
It remains evident that the literature review is the most applicable instrument in the context of the problem analysis. It is apparent that the primary goal of the literature review is to gather the information about the topic while focusing on dissimilar perceptions about the influence of the various diseases on the European exploration. In turn, this approach contributes to the formation of the particular perspectives of the particular historical period or phenomenon (Dawidowicz, 2010). In this instance, the primary goal of the literature review is to collect the precise data about the correlation between the disease and the ability to explore the distant lands while focusing on the 1500s period.
Literature Review
Diseases before the 1500s
Firstly, the core and the most widespread diseases have to be discussed to determine the situation in the world during the 1500s timespan. It remains evident that the vast variety of the sicknesses is present due to the inability to provide the relevant care and medical assistance to the people in need. Firstly, the book Plague: Black Death and Pestilence in Europe by Naphy and Spicer emphasizes that plague was one of the illnesses and sickness, which covered the Europe and had a vehemently adverse effect on the economic, political, and social environment in the country (Naphy & Spicer, 2004). It could be said that this disease highly influenced the ability for the transportation and discovery of the distant lands due to the extended lethality. It is apparent that this literature review depicts the essentiality of this disease in the context of the selected research topic, as it has a vehement influence on the discovery of the distant territories.
In turn, the article History of Syphilis: Between Poetry and Medicine by Maatouk and Moutran is trying to find the relevant solution to the enigma of Syphilis occurrence, as it had a high influence on the sufficient functioning of European and American states (Maatouk & Moutran, 2014). It is apparent that this article underlines the significance of this heath problem in the modern and ancient world due to the ability to influence the flow of life in the society (Maatouk & Moutran, 2014). In turn, it might have an adverse effect on the availability of the discoveries due to the global presence of the issue. In the end, both of these publications highlight the importance of the illnesses and diseases while contributing to the development of the means of traveling and exploration of the distant and unknown territories.
Discoveries before the 1500s
Nevertheless, Europe was not the center of the exploration, as the most relevant and valuable discoveries took place out of the continent. For instance, Cristopher Columbus is considered as an icon of the period due to his ability to reach the distant lands of Americas (Bartosik-Vélez, 2006). In turn, Desai states that the role of Columbus was exaggerated, as the essence of the other discoveries cannot be underestimated due to their high contribution to the functioning of the world (Desai, 2013). The presence of this contradiction implies that various events have a tendency to occur in the modern world, and their presence was defined by different external influences.
Nonetheless, the book The Voyages in World History by Hansen and Curtis depicts the dissimilar perception by emphasizing Europe as a center of discovery, geographical exploration, and development of the world in the 1300s-1500s (Hansen & Curtis, 2012). It is evident that this fact supports the opposing perception of the ability to explore and evaluate various European resources and locations, and various diseases did not have any influence on the speed of the studies and discoveries. In the end, both of these publications support the existence of the discoveries of the novelties in the world. However, it is apparent that the majority of the originalities were explored outside Europe, and this continent cannot be considered as an epicenter.
Correlation between Diseases and Discoveries
Lastly, the correlation between the limitations and the presence of the diseases have to be depicted. In this instance, the book Population and Development by Gould emphasize the interdependence between the decreased levels of transportation and sicknesses, as it is apparent that the frequent voyages increase the spread of the disease (Gould, 2015). It could be said that the presence of this matter is rather logical, and it is explained by the nature of the selected illnesses.
Speaking of the situation before the 1500s, it remains evident that the exploration of Europe by the other countries was not highly presented, as it was the core heart of the significant number of the dangerous diseases, which took lives of many individuals in Europe and other countries. It could be said that the literature review highlighted the ability of the medical situation in the world affect the era of discoveries and exploration, as the sicknesses limited the transportation routes and the ability of the travelers and explorers to visit distant countries.
Discussion and Conclusion
The research paper revealed that the primary and the most dangerous diseases were Syphilis and Plague, as they cover a vast territory of Europe and the rest of the world. Additionally, despite the presence of these aspects, the particular explorations and discoveries took place in the world. Nonetheless, the most vital ones such the discovery of the Americas took place out of Europe. Additionally, the general information about the different factors, which affect the exploration, emphasized the interdependence between the frequency of the discoveries and the spread of the particular sicknesses. In this case, this sequence was applied in the context of the research problem, and the correlation between Syphilis and Plague and European exploration was revealed.
Nonetheless, it is apparent that the further research is needed, as this paper was limited to the examination of the particular topics. In turn, more profound information about the particular centuries might be compulsory to acquire the detailed image of the presented issue. Furthermore, the investigation of the other diseases is also vital and have to be conducted in future. The findings can be applied in the field of geography, medicine, and history, as they have a tendency to be combined while supporting one research question.
References
Bartosik-Vélez, E. (2006). Globalization and Christopher Columbus in the Americas. Comparative Literature and Culture, 8(4), 2.
Davies, W. (2004). Writing geographical exploration: James and the Northwest passage, 1931-1933. Alberta, Canada: University of Calgary Press.
Dawidowicz, P. (2010). Literature reviews made easy: A quick guide to success. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Desai, C. (2013). The Columbus myth: Power and ideology in picturebooks about Christopher Columbus. Children’s Literature in Education, 45(3), 179.
Gould, W. (2015). Population and development. London, UK: Routledge.
Hansen, V., & Curtis, K. (2012). Voyages in world history: Brief edition. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Maatouk, I., & Moutran, R. (2014). History of Syphilis: Between poetry and medicine. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 11(1), 307-310.
Naphy, W., & Spicer, A. (2004). Plague: Black death and pestilence in Europe. Oxford, UK: Tempus Publishing Ltd.