The European Expansion was motivated purely by the religious rivalries among the European powers. European nations in the 15th century began exploring new lands with three motives: religion, wealth, and glory. It was made possible by advances in naval fleet building and navigation, first pioneered by the Portuguese. Europeans began to be involved in extensive exploration, coming in contact with Africa, Americas and their prime target Asia. The main targets of the pioneering Portugese and Spanish was to find and alternate trade route for the Indies trade and also promote Christianity to the new lands. As the century unfolded, the search for newer territories to colonize and shortern routes to the exotic land of spices and silk became the initial driving force for the intensive early exploration by the Europeans . Religious motives of the ‘Old Land’ of Europe’s exploration can be traced back to the days of the Crusades down to the 11th and 15th century, where the European Christians tried to invade and claim the city of Jerusalem from its Muslim control. The struggle between the Islamic rule and the European Christians planted the ideology of ‘Reconquista’ in the latter’s religion. It influenced the Christian religion with an air of religious intolerance. With the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, European Catholic’s interests in colonizing newer lands and declare global dominance earned a new momentum. And strong Catholic nations of Spain and Portugal were the
After Ferdinand and Isabella had won the religious war they fought against the Moors, they finally became an independent nation. Having their own form of Christianity following the Protestant Reformation, they were eager to find lands in Asia, Africa, and America where they could spread god’s word. When Columbus came to Spain in search of a sponsor of his oversea journey, Spain saw their perfect opportunity. Columbus, being one of the only men brave enough to explore the uncharted lands overseas, could claim a variety of land for his sponsor country. With these new countries in Spain’s possession, they would finally have land to spread their religion. For these reasons, Spain saw religion as a motivator for exploration of the new
The fundamental factors that drew Europeans to the exploration, conquest, and colonization of the New World are: the desire to spread Christianity, the search for new lands and new resources, the ambition to be known around the world and to address overpopulation in their homeland. The first three fundamental factors, called “God, Gold and Glory”, are generally known to be the main factors that motivated Europeans to the exploration, conquest and colonization of the New World. With the 3G’s present and were able to achieve by
As early as the fifteenth century, Europeans began to become eager to discover the New World that was unknown to them. With the concerns of rapid population growth, commerce, new learning, and the rise of competing for nation states, they set out for new adventures and discovery. For a long time, Spain and Portugal were the only European powers with New World colonies.
century in which Europeans embarked on extensive overseas expeditions. European nations, such as Portugal, Spain, England, and the Netherlands, participated heavily in global trade and set up many trade colonies and routes. Many people will say that the European’s only reason for exploration was to spread Christianity, obtain gold, and gain glory through their conquests and acquisition of lands. Some people might also say that the Ottomans heavily influenced the Europeans to participate in this period of exploration. Although the goals of “God, gold, and glory” are often associated with the Age of Exploration, the Ottoman Empire had a greater influence on the desire of European states to establish overseas empires and employ mercantilist economy
One of the most popular reasons Europeans came to the Americas was during their search for new trade routes. Europeans desired spices and other items from India and China, but the only way to reach them was through Muslim territory in the Mediterranean. Explorers at first tried sailing around Africa, but the trip was long and treacherous. Eventually, Spain set out to travel east across the world in order to reach Asia. They sent Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic Ocean, but instead of reaching Asia, he landed in the Caribbean. The explorers did not reach their intended target of the spice trade, but rather landed on a previously undiscovered world between the two continents.
1) The main reason European countries wanted to explore the New World was for the wealth and benefits for the people. The religious reasons behind the exploration of the New World were the separation of England and the Catholic nations. After the reformation, the European countries wanted to spread the word of Christianity, to other parts of the world. They thought that the more religious power they had meant that they were more dominant.
Multiple events in Europe affected colonization of the New World around 1492. Colonization is when a mother country creates settlements in other areas. European states were looking to colonize in order to inherit profit for self-sustainability. Resources and ideas have sparked the interest of many European voyagers. It encouraged them to explore in order to meet the needs and wants of rulers and the people. Also, explorers were searching for innovations that could be made in their country. The Crusades, the growth of commerce, the growth of population, the rise of nations, the Renaissance, and the improvement in sailing technology are events and trends that motivated European exploration.
Europe around the time of the Age of Exploration was experience a great population growth. From the Dark Ages came the centralization of countries and the rise of major economies. Also, the Renaissance brought advances in shipbuilding and new maritime techniques. There was also a common desire for a more direct route to Asia and avoid the Italian-controlled Mediterranean and the Middle-East. All these factors played a major part in the purpose of the European countries to participate in this Age of Exploration, however this is where the Europeans begin to
In the early modern period, explorers crossed immense oceans to even find a hint of other civilizations and new resources. With superior material and technological strength, especially firearms, Europeans were able to achieve land and power. The motives for European expansion varied from desiring glory from their lands, gold for their future, to serve in the name of God, and the strategic needs that their country may require.
The religious motivation for European exploration and colonization’s of the Americas was the rivalry of European countries to impose their own form of Christianity to non-Christians in the Americas, Asia and Africa. The economic motivation for European exploration
In the early Americas there was remarkable exploration from European explorers. This had all started with the Spanish and their conquests in the south, in Mexico. This would lead to many others to pounce on the opportunities for land and treasures, such as gold and silver. Many European powers came to the New World in order to colonize and to leach off the untapped resources. The conquest for prosperity was to begin with this.
This pushed exploration further in all directions, and they now had plenty of reasons to continue expansion. From the initial dominance of Christianity to the Protestant Reformation, religious cause for navigating toward America suited both sides. The political causes were justified in the monarchies interest in the new land, creating a way to expand their control, but eventually leading to war among one another. Economically, the Europeans benefited extremely well, and for that reason alone gave them a strong incentive for colonization in America. The three causes all relate with one another, and one cause relies heavily on another. The Europeans exploration had not expected to encounter such an opportunity, but with it came the success that eventually laid out the plans of America to be something beyond what they thought
In conclusion, the Europeans started out on explorations to the west because of the expanding population, wanting to spread Christianity, and the competition of finding direct routes for trading to obtain spices. Claiming new lands would also lead to
Trade was the first motive for European exploration. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Italians and Muslims had control of the Mediterranean. Because of this, countries such as Portugal lacked access to Asian trade routes, since they lacked the resources to break through “the Italian dominated trade of the Mediterranean” (Arnold 4) Such countries were forced to explore and expand in order to find new routes around the world to reach Asia, causing them to search for goods and trade beyond their borders, acquiring land and resources along the way, which in turn expanded European trade and economy. Another factor was Europe's search for new trade. European merchants discovered that they could no longer sell their merchandise in Asia and Africa, as many of their products were deemed inferior to their African and Asian counterparts. They attempted to sell “crude woollen cloth in Asian markets accustomed to fine silks and calicoes” (Arnold 3) The Europeans needed a new market, motivating them to send explorers such as
It is often said that the European’s chief motives for exploration were ‘God, gold, and glory’. The Europeans set out in a missionary zeal and attempted to convert as many people, like the Native Americans, to Christianity as they could and drive Muslims out of other lands. Another thing that propelled the Europeans was the search for gold and other riches in far off lands through sea routes. They hoped to obtain spices like nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, etc. and luxury goods such as silk, gold, silver, jewels, ivory, porcelain, teas from Africa and the East