1. Prior to European contact in the 15th century, the Americas were home to diverse indigenous cultures, but European arrival irrevocably changed these cultures and connected the Americas to global changes.
2. The geography of Europe, Africa, and the Americas impacted how technology developed in each region and drove European exploration across oceans.
3. Multiple social, political, religious, intellectual, and economic factors in 15th-16th century Europe, including developments like the Renaissance, contributed to the Age of Discovery and changing global connections through colonization and slave trade networks.