Exploration… good or bad, not only geographical exploration but internal exploration through the arts as well. Exploration has always played a monumental role in the history of the world, from the discovery of America to the internal exploration of the arts in the Renaissance; exploration was and still is very important. Without exploration many of the things we have in the world today would not be around today. The inspirations and revolutions found through exploration have come to change the world for the better.
The geographical exploration around the world has greatly benefitted the worl. One of the greatest geographical explorations was when Christopher Columbus discovered America on his journey. If not for this exploration of the world the world would have been much different then today. Throughout Columbus’ journey he wrote many logs and this one in October talks about a couple days before they found land: “Thursday, 11 October. Steered west-southwest; and encountered a heavier sea than they had met with before in the whole voyage. Saw pardelas and a green rush near the vessel. The crew of the Pinta saw a cane and a log; they also picked up a stick which appeared to have been carved with an iron tool, a piece of cane, a plant which grows on land, and a board. The crew of the Nina saw other signs of land, and a stalk loaded with rose berries. These signs encouraged them, and they all grew cheerful.” (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columbus1.html) Columbus’ journey revolutionized the world and was a major event in the world’s history. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus) 
During the Renaissance, a different kind of exploration happened. Thid exploration was internal exploration. This exploration led to new advancements in the arts. The Medici family brought about most of this change through their influence in the Renaissance in Florence. One of the most influential people of the Medici family was Lorenzo de Medici, also called Lorenzo the Magnificent. He had lots of influence on the arts in Florence by sponsoring artists like Leonardo De Vinci and Michelangelo. Lorenzo also took an interest of all aspects of art like music architecture and poetry all throughout Florence. “Lorenzo took the greatest delight in architecture, music and poetry; and many of his own poetic compositions, enriched with commentaries, appeared in print. And for the purpose of enabling the Florentine youths to devote themselves to the study of letters, he established a university in the city of Pisa, where he employed the most eminent men of all Italy as professors. He built a monastery for Fra Mariano da Chianozzona, of the order of St Augustine, who was a most admirable pulpit orator. And thus, beloved of God and fortune, all his enterprises were crowned with success, whilst those of his enemies had the opposite fate.” (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/machiavelli-histflo-lorenzo.html) The Renaissance in Florence brought primarily from the Medici family explored the arts and had many internal revelations through this different kind of exploration. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_de%27_Medici) Without all the exploration that has happened throughout history, how would the world be? Would there even be the U.S.A? Would all of the great ideas and art that came out of the Renaissance would have become a reality? Luckily the great minds throughout history have dug deeper within themselves and explored what others had never before and brought great changes to the world. The physical and internal exploration that has taken place throughout history has greatly affected the world for the better and exploration will continue to help the world for the rest of time.
Works Cited
"Christopher Columbus." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 08 May 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus.
"Lorenzo De' Medici." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 08 May 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_de%27_Medici.
"Medieval Sourcebook: Christopher Columbus: Extracts from Journal." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 08 May 2010. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columbus1.html.
Nice job finding good primary sources; one question: You say that exploration has changed the world for the better; do you think the indigenous peoples that Columbus and later the Spanish explorers found would agree?
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