- "a period from approximately the 15th century to the 17th century"
The economic, political, and religious reasons that motivated European countries to explore and colonize other parts of the world.
Trade: The desire to trade with other countries for goods and resources was one of the primary reasons for exploration, especially during the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Religion: Many European nations wanted to spread Christianity and convert new peoples, as well as to escape religious persecution or create alliances with other Christian nations.
Technologies: Advances in shipbuilding, navigation tools such as the astrolabe and compass, and the creation of gunpowder and firearms made exploration possible and profitable.
Colonization: European nations wanted to establish colonies and claim territories in the Americas, Africa, and Asia for permanent settlements and control.
Political and Economic competition: As European nations developed, they began to compete for power and economic resources, including control of trade routes and the natural resources found in new lands.
Scientific curiosity: Many explorers were also interested in discovering new plants, animals, and geographic features, and furthering scientific understanding of the world.
Adventure and Glory: Many explorers were driven by a desire for adventure, exploration, and new challenges, as well as the prestige that came with being a successful explorer.
Navigation and Cartography: The exploration era led to important advancements in navigation and cartography, including the creation of more accurate maps and the development of longitude lines.
Indigenous cultures: European explorers were fascinated by the cultures, languages, and customs of the people they encountered on their journeys, although this fascination often led to negative consequences for these indigenous peoples.
Imperialism and Power: The Age of Exploration was fundamentally tied to the rise of European imperialist powers and their efforts to expand their influence around the world, both through exploration and colonization.
Economic Reasons: Exploration was often carried out to acquire new resources, locate new trade routes, and establish new markets.
Religious Reasons: Many Europeans sought to spread their religion and convert people in newly discovered territories to Christianity.
Political Reasons: European powers competed for control of land and resources in the New World. Exploration was used as a means of expanding territories and strengthening political control.
National Pride: Nationalist sentiments played a role in exploration. Many monarchs and rulers sought to demonstrate their power and prestige through exploration.
Scientific Curiosity: Many explorers were driven by a desire to discover new lands, people, and cultures, and to expand human knowledge.
Technological Advancement: Exploration spurred advancements in shipbuilding, navigation, and cartography, which in turn facilitated further exploration.
Escape from Persecution: Many groups, such as the Pilgrims, fled persecution in Europe and sought refuge in the New World.
Personal Wealth: Many explorers were motivated by the prospect of acquiring vast wealth through the discovery and exploitation of new resources.
Cultural Exchange: European explorers often sought to establish cultural exchange with the people they encountered in newly discovered lands.
Humanitarian Reasons: Some explorers were motivated by a desire to alleviate human suffering and spread the benefits of Western civilization to other peoples.
- "with the Spanish and Portuguese at the forefront, later joined by the Dutch, English, and French"
- "the Portuguese discoveries of the Atlantic archipelagos of Madeira and Azores, the coast of West Africa in 1434, and the establishment of the sea route to India in 1498 by Vasco da Gama"
- "Spain made the transatlantic voyages of Christopher Columbus between 1492 and 1504"
- "the Spanish Magellan expedition made the first circumnavigation of the globe between 1519 and 1522"
- "had a significant impact on the European understanding of the world"
- "European overseas exploration led to the rise of international trade and the European colonial empires"
- "a wide transfer of plants, animals, food, human populations (including slaves), communicable diseases, and culture between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres"
- "European exploration allowed the mapping of the world"
- "new diseases were propagated, decimating populations not previously in contact with the Old World, particularly concerning Native Americans"
- "The era saw widespread enslavement, exploitation and military conquest of native populations"
- "land expeditions in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australia that continued into the late 19th century"
- "decimating populations not previously in contact with the Old World"
- "the growing economic influence and spread of European culture and technology"
- "maritime expeditions of Portugal to the Canary Islands in 1336"
- "the establishment of the sea route to India in 1498 by Vasco da Gama"
- "Spain made the transatlantic voyages of Christopher Columbus between 1492 and 1504"
- "European overseas exploration led to the rise of international trade"
- "resulting in a new worldview and distant civilizations coming into contact"
- "continued into the late 19th century, followed by the exploration of the polar regions in the 20th century"