New Discoveries in an Old World

Almost every time I go hiking or immerse myself in nature, I find myself having the thought: every place I have ever set foot, someone has already been there before. I find it a bit disheartening that no matter how far I journey and how removed from society I travel, I will never discover an undiscovered place. (This is knowing that my fear of heights and tight spaces will prevent me from becoming an astronaut or traveling to the depths of the ocean.) It’s virtually impossible that any of us will see the discovery of a whole new world, but at the same time, it’s quite likely we will.

Past Journeys

In the Renaissance era there were countless explorers who traveled to faraway lands. Explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and Jacques Cartier stumbled upon lands the European world had no idea even existed. The explorers of this era left Europe in search of trade routes, missionary opportunities, and personal fame and glory. I think it is fair to say that such goals were accomplished and even exceeded.

Past Discoveries

While explorers were discovering new lands, other discoveries that changed the course of history were also being made. In the 15^th century, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. This invention made access to printed books, most notably the bible, widespread and common. Widespread access to printed literature gave a greater number of people the opportunity for personal learning. Additionally, knowledge could now be spread further and more reliably. This invention opened up a whole new world of communication. So even though no new land was discovered with the invention of the printing press, a new world was still unearthed.

New Religious Worlds

Another example of a new world that is not necessarily a physical discovery was that of Protestantism. Martin Luther posted his 95 theses in references to the practices of the Catholic church, and everything changed. Because of this act, new streams of thought took placed and whole new religions were formed. A new world of religion was discovered with the act of questioning, changing the course of religious history.

New Worlds Today

When it comes to discovering new worlds today, it is difficult to see any new lands that will be discovered. But aside from discovery of new physical areas, there is still room for new inventions to open up new worlds at any time. One example mentioned by my friend Amelia is that of social media. The way social media has changed communication is very comparable to the way the printing press changed communication of the 15^th century. Social media opened up a new world in our modern day society. So whether or not we discover any brand new land masses anytime soon, there is still great opportunity for new worlds to be opened to us at any time.

Sources:

http://www.cresskillboe.k12.nj.us/cresskill/Schools/Cresskill%20High%20School/Teacher%20Websites/Kline,%20Stephen/World%20History/Age%20of%20Exploration/CH%2016.1%20Voyages%20of%20Discovery.pdf 

https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/printing-press

Class Discussion with Peers

Image: https://www.historyextra.com/period/modern/age-of-exploration-bring-more-harm-than-good-americas-australia-columbus-captain-cook/