How Did Europeans Set Out To Explore Unknown Sea?

Possibly the biggest reason Europeans set out to explore the New World was the hope of riches they would find. A Portuguese merchant expressed how many luxury items would be able to be imported from the New World, bringing money to the mother country. To this merchant, the riches resulting from exploration were a great reason to continue to explore (Doc 5). Europe did indeed receive a lot of wealth from their colonies in the new world, so this aspect of their goal was fulfilled.

With the inventions of more efficient ships and the perfection of navigational instruments, the Spanish (as well as England and France) gained a curiosity to explore and find a way to Asia by water and

Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, European exploration and expansion thrived. Portugal led the way in this movement of exploration with their development of efficiently built ships known as caravels, seafaring devices such as compasses and astrolabes, and cutting-edge naval academies. Various European countries, including Spain, England, France, etc., followed Portugal’s example by utilizing their progressive naval technology. These technological advancements led to the crossing of oceans and eventually the circumnavigation of the world. These Portuguese sailing techniques were implemented by explorers such as Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, Hernando Cortes, Francisco Pizarro, and Bernal Castillo allowing them to travel by sea to places such as Africa, East Asia, the Caribbean, and the Americas. These nations and explorers were persuaded to put in the time and effort to complete these complex expeditions by three essential motivations. Financial gain, political dignity, and religious expansion were fundamental motivators for the European Age of Exploration.

People living the the 15th century had multiple reasons for venturing beyond its confinement of land. Scientific curiosity of the world played a major part in the advancement of naval travel, but it was not the main cause of exploration in these times. The Age of Exploration was sparked by Europeans wanting to find sea routes to East Asia, which they called the Indies. Merchants and crusaders were bringing goods to Europe from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. These trade routes were controlled by the Muslims and the Italians. However, flaws

*The Age of Exploration saw searches of wealth, new lands, and conversion of christianity. Europeans ed the first globe trading empires and would they would make trips to the western hemisphere.

The desire to explore the unknown has been a driving force in human history since the dawn of time. From the earliest documented accounts, ancient civilizations have explored the world around them. Early adventures were motivated by religious beliefs, a desire for conquest, the need for trade, and an unsatisfying hunger for gold. The great Age of Exploration, beginning in the late 1400s, was an important era in the discovery and development of lands yet unknown to the Europeans. During this period, Europe sought new sea routes to Asia in pursuit of economic gain, increased glory, and opportunities to spread Christianity. Although these were motivations for explorers, the impact from the discoveries resulted in significant changes and

The age of exploration was a time period that brought two different worlds together. European explorers were able to use the navigation to discover the new world. Theirs discovers caused a great change in both worlds but it also brought negativity to both worlds. In document 3 it talks about one of the causes of European exploration was different explorers had different reasons to explore the new land. Some went for wealth, glory, and gold, while others travel for their own interest.

The ideas of God, Glory and Gold were the key encouragements on the Age of Exploration. The Age of Exploration was a time of the spread of Christian faith. Europeans took missionary trips to spread the beliefs of God. The expansion of Christianity caused multiple other religions to convert to European beliefs. The competition to discover land first was present during the Age of Exploration. There was a search for riches among all of the countries on unclaimed lands. The strive for “Glory” introduced the idea of merchantism to the New World. The search for material gain was also a cause of the Age of Exploration. The hunt for “Gold” lead to an increase in slavery and the first European voyages, (Doc 3). Economic production and trade increase were results of the

The Age of Exploration was a time when many explorers went out to discover and seek new findings. It took place for many reasons, but it happened mainly because Europeans wanted to find new trade routes to Asia. Since Muslims and Italians were the only ones controlling trade, the rest of the Europeans wanted to find new ways and new places to trade with. Along with this, new advances in technology such as the compass, and in mapmaking took place. Also, many people were up to take the challenge and explore the parts of the world they never knew of.

In the early 1600's monarchs and merchants in search of ways to expand their riches, funded marine expeditions with the hopes of extending trade relations with other nations across the open seas. Little did these explores know how treacherous their voyage would be and exactly what they might find. Approximately three thousand nautical miles from Europe they traveled, landing on an unknown continent that appeared untouched by civilized man. Gold and silver was nowhere to be found, but the vast continent was filled with the most glorious natural resources. The first being the mighty green forest that blanketed the land as far as the eye could see, rivers, brooks, and ponds that contained fresh water, an enormous amount of fish inland and along

The main motivation of European exploration was economic motives. People were beginning to become more interested in traveling by sea to reach Asia and Africa and all their riches(Duiker,494). The spice trade was what linked Europe to Asia, and the gold trade linked Europe to Africa. Furthermore, in the 15th and 16th centuries, as the economy and purchasing power of Europe developed and increased, the spice demand grew at a steady rate(Arnold,12). Therefore, spices were one of the few things that made overseas trade possible. Europe did not have very much gold to begin with, so ultimately the gold mines that they did possess were emptied. After 1400, Europe started trading with the areas that produced gold, increasing their amount of gold. Gold was very important to Europe, because not only was it used for decorations, but also their currency. In 1500, Portugal was controlling the flow of gold to Europe, making Portugal much wealthier(Buckler,500). Eventually, slaves were included in the gold

     The Age of Exploration was a time of struggle and wealth for many European countries. The pursuit of a trade route to the Far East led many countries across the ocean, looking for the great spice cities that were rumored by Marco Polo. These countries knew that whoever found the shortest or best route would become rich, very quickly. Explorers from many European countries embarked on journeys that not even they had any clue where they were going. This search for the Far East led to many discoveries that would otherwise have never been found.

During the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, many people from European countries sailed across the Atlantic ocean in search of gold, spices, and other valuable materials. The value of these materials increased drastically when they were gathered straight from the source; this factor influenced many prominent explorers to seek out and bring back these goods on their own for personal gain. Examples of prominent explorers consist of Christopher Columbus of Spain, Vasco da Gama of Portugal who sailed in order to obtain spices, silk, and porcelain as well as wanting to spread Catholicism, and Walter Raleigh from England who explored purely for treasure. When exploring, Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama approached the indigenous people in a similar manner. They viewed the natives as conquerable and considered them to live in a simple society. Walter Raleigh addressed the indigenous people differently, however, rather than seeing them as inferior to him and his countrymen, he approached them with a neutral mindset and was often respectful in regards to their differing beliefs. The contrast in how Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama approach the native people in relation to Walter Raleigh is solely dependent on religion and how the spread of Catholicism was Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama’s main focus when on their exploration.

Why did Columbus travel west? Why did Marco Polo head east? Because it is that pull, that unknown, that prospect of adventure that compels humans to seek new frontiers to explore.

Another factor that stimulated European maritime exploration was the adventurous nature of the sailors and other maritime personnel of the 15th century. This