1500s the Period of Knowledge

I personally call the 1500s the period of knowledge. All throughout the 16th century, empires were expanding, trying to gain more knowledge about what else is out there in the world. By doing this, the empires were able to discover eachother, and learn from eachother. From this encounter, culures were able to feed off of eachother and enhance them their own society too like the encounters between the Spainards and the Incas. Also, trade routes were established which were vital to the development of such powers like the British Empire whose establishment in India would catapualt them into the power seat later in the 19th and 20th centuries. Also this time period is when empires began the technological race, trying to obtain the best ships that can take them the farthest. With the beginning of the technologic race, empires were able to learn more about the world and what they can and cannot do like the Portugeuse develpoping their ships that could take them almost around the world. I personally believe that the 16th century is probably one of the most important because of the knowledge about the world and ourselves that we aquired was so important to the development of humans.