ABSTRACT
Exploration by Europeans proved to be a hugely significant element of change for its perception of the world. By the early thirteenth century, the Hungarians proved to be another bridge between the ‘land of the Franks’ and Constantinople and Islamic trade routes through their close contacts, and the Magyars origin in the east. Marco Polo’s Travels are an important work because they rekindled a fascination with China and the possibility of European trade with the east. Direct contact between Europe and the north, west, India and beyond was largely absent by the thirteenth century despite still receiving goods from these regions. In terms of exploration, initially the Portuguese had concentrated on the Atlantic before landing in the Canary Islands in 1341. They were disappointed in not finding any silver or gold, but rather what they perceived to be as primitive peoples of whom they brought back four to their own country.
