It’s hard for me to grasp the complex trading that went on during the years of world exploration and the claiming of the America’s by European countries. It seems that trade was almost the backbone of Europe and Asia’s economies, and that after countries like Spain and England made their stake in the Americas their network doubled. Ships going between Asia and Europe were hard enough, as they dealt with possible attacks from other fleets, but to travel from Europe to America while hauling thousands of tons of silver and gold seems like it would have a middling success rate. It amazes me how they could accomplish this during this time.