The Age of Exploration, which spanned roughly from 1400 to 1550, was the first time in history that European powers-eyeing new trade routes to the East or seeking to establish empires-began actively looking far past their own borders to gain a better understanding of the world and its many resources. The individuals who set out on behalf of the countries they represented came from a variety of backgrounds, and included master navigators such as Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan-the latter of whom was the first to circle the globe-as well as the often ruthless conquistadors of the New