The Age of European Exploration, advancements in navigation technology, European desire to obtain goods from Asia, the compass, the astrolabe, European dependence on Asian spices, rise of nation-states in western Europe, naval engineering, cartography (mapmaking), explore the Western Hemisphere, the caravel, exploration of the Americas, Portugal and Spain, maritime (water) routes to Asia, avoid the overland routes that were controlled by Muslim traders, geographic feature, enhanced the ability t