How did America become the nation it is today? It all started when Europe began explorations for new territory. There were several factors contributing to the need and desire to expand west. While beneficial to European countries, conquering the Americas proved disastrous to the indigenous tribes. Why did Europe start exploring the New World and what effects did it have? Before the fifteenth century, very few Europeans were aware of the Americas and there was little desire to look for new lands. The continent had been afflicted by the bubonic plague and lost roughly one third of the entire population. Governments of the previous centuries were weaker and divided. Over a century later, Europe’s population rebounded and strong, new governments wanted to enhance and expand their commercial development. Monarchies and merchants alike were searching for faster, safer routes to trade with Asia. Marco Polo and others had traveled to Asia and brought back both wild tales and exotic wares. These goods and stories sparked interest in trading with the East.
Although the Portuguese had many devote their lives to exploration, Spain was the first to encounter and conquer the New World. In 1492,
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Although English explorer John Cabot sailed to America in 1497, they did not attempt to colonize the land until a century later. In 1518, Hernando Cortés decided to attempt an invasion of Mexico against the Aztecs after hearing of their treasures. His first endeavor to capture Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capitol, failed militarily; however, unknowingly the Spanish troops exposed the Aztecs to smallpox, which crippled the Aztec population. Cortés was then able to conquer the natives. Roughly twenty years later, Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incan people in Peru. Spain and Portugal combined forces and controlled the