Why hadn’t Europeans used maritime routes before the Age of Exploration?

Before the Age of Exploration, Europeans had not extensively used maritime routes for several reasons:

1. Technological Limitations: The ships and navigational tools available before the 15th century were not advanced enough for long-distance sea travel. Ships were primarily designed for coastal navigation and were not equipped to handle the open ocean's challenges.

2. Lack of Knowledge: There was limited geographical knowledge about the world beyond Europe. Many regions were unexplored, and there were misconceptions about the dangers of the open sea, such as sea monsters and the edge of the world.

3. Economic and Political Factors: Trade routes over land, such as the Silk Road, were well-established and controlled by powerful empires and trading networks. There was less incentive to explore risky and unknown sea routes when existing land routes were profitable.

4. Cultural and Religious Beliefs: Cultural and religious beliefs often discouraged exploration. The medieval European worldview was heavily influenced by religion, which sometimes promoted a more insular perspective.

5. Lack of Motivation: Before the Age of Exploration, there was less motivation to seek new trade routes or lands. The demand for exotic goods and spices increased later, prompting the search for direct maritime routes to Asia.

These factors combined to delay the widespread use of maritime routes by Europeans until technological, economic, and cultural changes during the Age of Exploration made such voyages feasible and desirable.