European Exploration

During the era of exploration for Europeans, there were three main motives that impelled them to find new land, fame, fortune, and faith. Although all three were important motivations, it is obvious that fortune was the most prominent motive in the beginning of the era, however in the end, fame was most important.

Christopher Columbus, an Italian man financed by the Spanish to find a westward trade route to Asia, set out from Spain heading west to find India, and a faster way to get spices. These spices, “which were needed to preserve and flavor food, were very expensive after being shipped to Europe by Arab middlemen” (Exploration Reading 5). Columbus thought that by traveling westward to Asia instead of eastward, he could find a faster and

Once one country found it, it became a contest throughout Europe to conquer and own land in the Americas, because whichever country had the most land could acquire the most wealth and resources from the area. However, once the new land and new trade routes were discovered, and many Europeans did become rich, the new focus was on becoming famous. “Government-sponsored explorers from many countries joined the race to the Americas”, where they fought for the most land and wealth. (Exploration Reading 8). Each of the European countries wanted to be known for something, whether it be conquering Native empires like the Spanish, or having control of the spice trade, like the Portuguese, or owning the area in the Americas known as “New England”, like the English. Incontrovertibly, the first motive for exploration was gain wealth, but quickly transitioned into being about fame.

In the beginning of the era of exploration, the main motive for exploring was to gain as much wealth as possible, whether it be acquired from new trade routes or new land, however, the motive of fame became more apparent during the second half of the era or exploration. Although spreading their faith was important to Europeans, it was not the most prominent motive for exploring new areas of the world. Fame, fortune, and wealth were all important reasons for exploration; ones that shaped the Americas into what they are