The voyages of discovery were a series of expeditions and explorations undertaken by European navigators during the 15th and 16th centuries. These voyages were motivated by a desire to find new trade routes to Asia, expand European empires, and spread Christianity. Some of the most notable voyages of discovery include Christopher Columbus' expeditions to the Americas, Vasco da Gama's journey around the Cape of Good Hope to India, Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the world, and Henry Hudson's exploration of North America. The voyages of discovery had a profound impact on world history, leading to the establishment of colonial empires, the exchange of goods and ideas between different cultures, and the exploration and mapping of previously unknown territories.
