Internal exploration of human understanding, like math and science, or External exploration?

I think that any form of exploration or discovery has an outstanding impact on society, but internal exploration of human understanding has a greater long term impact. Without external exploration, we would have never been where we are today. For example, it takes certain courageous people to make these discoveries, like Christopher Columbus. He sailed over to America in 1492. If he had not gotten the money or proper studying to be able to do that, maybe we would not be living in America now. However, if we had not undergone scientific and mathematical exploration, we would have not even known of the possibility of other lands existing, or had the technology to get there. Scientific discoveries can not only include things like new medicines, but they also facilitate all of the external discoveries of the world. Also, while external exploration can do things like gain is knowledge or land, and this is indeed very good, scientific and mathematic exploration can save people's lives. Discoveries in medicine have helped unbelievable amounts of people in the past, and when we make new discoveries, unbelievable amounts of people will be saved. When we find the cure for cancer, so many people will be grateful that they can now live their full life with their family. The scientific and mathematical discoveries that humans make also lead to things like the Apollo 11. This was the first spaceship to land on the moon, and we could not have made it there without it. This is a perfect example of how internal exploration of human understanding is the center of all life on Earth, and, if anything, the need for external discoveries are what pulls us to make the internal discoveries to fulfill them.

Sources:

"Christopher Columbus." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 05 May 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus>.

"Apollo 11." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 05 May 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11>.

Photographs from:

Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia, 04 Aug. 2009. Web. 5 May 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CristobalColon.jpg>.

Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia, 06 Apr. 2005. Web. 5 May 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apollo11_LOGO.JPG>.

Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia, 25 Apr. 2006. Web. 5 May 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:5927_NASA.jpg>.