Great geographical discoveries were made possible thanks to …

The great geographical discoveries that took place in the 15th – 17th centuries became possible for several reasons. First, a new type of sailing ships appeared – the caravel. These ships were comfortable for long voyages. Secondly, high-quality maps appeared, on which coordinates were plotted. Thirdly, instruments such as the compass and astrolabes began to be widely used for navigation. In addition, the Ottoman Empire conquered the Balkans and Asia Minor, which made the former caravan routes difficult.