Vasco da Gama India route Venice maritime decline

A sea route to India weakened Venice

Vasco da Gama's 1497–1499 voyage opened a route to India around the Cape of Good Hope. Venice's oared ships were poorly suited to ocean crossings, leaving the city behind in the race for colonies.

Large black holes are currently growing, not shrinking

Larger black holes lose less energy through Hawking radiation. Today, a black hole with the mass of a star absorbs more energy from the background radiation of the universe than it loses through Hawking radiation. So for now, it grows rather than slowly evaporating.

Mesopotamian writing grew out of counting

Early Mesopotamian writing began with records of numbers and goods. Over time, people added picture signs and signs for sounds. A system built for accounting gradually became able to write general language.

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Vasco da Gama India route Venice maritime decline

A sea route to India weakened Venice

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