In the 1500’s and 1600’s, Europe dived into an era of exploration of new trade routes. Exploration carried out by explorers like Cortes, Diaz and Da Gama led Europe into new lands. The main motivations of these explorers were to gather spices and gold. Their countries were infatuated with the spices of Asia and with precious metals. Religion was not the main motivation for European exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries; however, the search for wealth was.
European exploration was brought on by the three G’s: God, gold, and glory. People wanted to spread Christianity whether it be Catholicism or Protestantism, while explorers such as Cortes were looking for gold to get rich and glory to get famous. This age of exploration was able to occur because of technological advances such as the caravel, cannons on ships, more advanced cartography, and the magnetic compass. The impact exploration had on the natives of the New World was changes in the natives culture, enslavement of the native people, and a massive population decrease.
One cause for European exploration was their desire for wealth. Europeans were looking for new materials and to trade with new civilizations. Another cause for European exploration was to spread Christianity throughout the world. Europeans also wanted to expand their country by finding undiscovered land. This caused conflict between European countries.
Europe was in the process of developing a widespread trade route. These ships that were deployed out on the said trade routes obtained many priceless spices including cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and others. In 1599 the Dutch sent out 8 ships, only four arrived back after the fourteen month journey (Doc. 8). The amount of ships that were sent on the voyage to get these items displayed that they were of great value and importance. Portrayed by the products and varying greatly, it developed a larger and more diverse amount of jobs for those in Europe.
European explorers and conquistadors during the age of exploration were motivated by three things: God, gold and glory. The two most prominent of the three between 1492 and 1607 were gold and glory. Beginning in 1492 gold motivated many explorers, from Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the New World to the Virginia Company’s colonization of America. Gold is a symbol for wealth, and many explorers soon realized the New World’s potential for wealth. The Spanish’s interest in wealth inspired Columbus’s expedition in the first place, as he was sent to India to trade for spices. Columbus reportedly traded pieces of his ship for gold, and was given a golden mask by a native chief. He later said in court (believing he had reached India) “There are many spices, and great mines of gold and other metals…”. After learning of the untapped natural resources and potential for wealth, European nations created an exploration frenzy, with constant voyages to the new world. The nations which sponsored these expeditions would give the explorers a cut of all the gold they found, which helped motivate conquistadors to make the long and treacherous journey to the New World. These explorers knew gold would bring wealth and power to them and their country, in addition to achieving tremendous glory for both.
This point of view is supported by Henry VIII’s abandonment from the Roman Catholic Church, which delayed the efforts made on the explorations and colonization. Other matters that had stalled the attempt on colonization happened in 1587 where Sir Walter Raleigh’s settlement in North Carolina failed. These delays had set England far behind Spain and Portugal in the Americas colonization 3. a. Christopher Columbus’ point of view shows how the natives are people with reason and understanding where a transaction from both parties must be made for the two to be happy. Christopher Columbus also knows how a forceful taken over will not be a successful as a slow welcoming embrace to the European culture and religions.
There are economic, cultural, and political are the effects of the industrial revolution and European imperialism on both European nations and their colonies during the time period 1700-1914. European nations gained oversea colonies in North and South America, Africa and Asia. The European nations conquer Africa because they needed raw materials. European-introduced European culture, language, and religion to Africa. The European opened schools in Africa, which teach in the European language and spread Christianity.
In the fifteenth century, Spain had the indication of traveling to the New World, which consisted of present-day South America along into parts of North America. The noted explorers, Columbus, Cortés, and Las Casas each had the confidence of fulfilling this expedition to the New World. Along the way each explorer encountered different experiences with the indigenous people including their values and beliefs. The explorers’ eyes were open to a new world and experienced many hardships. However, the explorers came across great colonization’s of the New World, including trading routes and goods, along with the discovering of new plants and animals. Each confront with the New World was different for the explorers allowing for different experiences. Some had different intentions along with experiencing different obstacles with the indigenous people. They each though led a success route allowing for the Spain to connect with the New World.
Why you Don’t Need to be Smart to Get Good Grades Sophomore year, AP U.S. History. My class was writing a Document Based Question (DBQ) over Christopher Columbus and the Age of Exploration. (A document based question is an essay where you use factual evidence given in the form of documents to write an essay). I knew nothing! My mind was blanker than the vacuum of space itself.
Europe was able to conquer and explore the rest of the world, an not anyone else not because of a superior economic status, but because of of its geographic location and because of its political strategies. In early history, Europe was the easiest place to thrive as a community because of s superior geographic location which gives it many advantages. Europe was economically superior to some places, but others such of China were as good, or if not than even better than Europe. The location of Europe shaped its political ideas which in turn motivated it to conquer the world. An additional document showing the crops grown in America and how efficient they are could be useful to prove Europe's superior geographic luck.
When Columbus came to the Americas in search of land for his king, he also came to claim land for God” (Spreading Religion in the Age of Exploration). The Europeans spread Christianity, and it became very popular among the colonies of the New World. “Roman Catholicism was the official religion of Spain, so the Spanish conquistadors sought to spread Catholicism throughout their colonies, in addition to accumulating wealth and power” (Spreading Religion in the Age of Exploration). The Spanish missionaries worked very hard throughout the Americas and attempted to evangelize Native American groups.
The European expansion into the Western Hemisphere in the 15th and 16th centuries was a great advance for human civilization. Three reasons was an advancement of the human race is that it laid the groundwork for changed politics, new economy and created views on other cultures. This is important because the expansion of the Europeans into the Western hemisphere was one of a kind at the time. The expansion brought new people, culture and ideas and that and this laid the groundwork for a new government. Another reason this is an advancement is that it expanded the economic system this is important because it made more people rich. Socially, the expansion into the Western hemisphere made the settlers create concepts of superiority and views on other cultures. In conclusion, the European expansion in the 15th and 16th centuries had positive effects on the human race.
Modern imperialism resulted in an economic shift towards more possible imports. Increased trade massively expanded what European countries could consume. For example, increased access to Indian trade provided Britain with new silk and spices. As a whole, European powers secured access to goods like silver, rubber, gold, diamonds, and tea. This also applied to natural resources and agriculture; for instance, imperialism allowed Britain to replace their rainforests with tea plantations.
Christopher Columbus letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel explained how his goal was to deceive the Native Americans and take away their valuable resources like their land and edible goods. In the early parts of the letter he is telling the king and queen how he has been renaming the new island that he came encountered with. This already shows the mindset he had going in to the new land his goal was to completely conquer every piece of land and convert every person to Christianity. He first tries to become friends with the natives. Learning their culture and what they had to offer so it can be able to benefit him and the Divine Majesty.