Compare And Contrast The Motives For Expansion Of Western Russia During The Modern Era

During the Modern Era, Western Europe, Russia, East and South Asia were expanding across not only land but an ocean away from their homeland. Each empire had different reasons for their expansion. Western Europe, Russia, East and South Asia had common motives for expansion, including geography and economy. Western Europeans had several motives for expanding their empires to the Americas including competition, and wanting to legitimize their power. Eurasian empires were competing to gain the Americas but since Western Europe was geographically the closest, they had the biggest advantages. The other empires had to cross land but Europe only had to cross the Atlantic ocean. Also the mixed winds of the Atlantic blew in the same direction

Although the Russian empire was the largest empire and took over parts of Asia and Europe, they did not contain much land overseas like Western Europe did. Russia was very isolated from the rest of the world which motivated them to expand their territory. Russian motives were very strong being that they were located on the cold, and heavily forested eastern fringe of Christendom, where it was very unlikely to construct the greatest empire during the Modern Era. One of Russia’s motives for expansion to Siberia includes the opportunity for fur bearing animals. They were in need of fur for warmth being that the Russian empire expanded over the tundra of Northern Asia. Russians also had a limited access to gunpowder and other advanced tools which drew them to the need for “soft gold” of fur bearing animals. Overall, Russian motives were to expand due to the want of opportunity. The need for power was also seen in East and South Asia. China’s motives included the desire to control the land that could possibly start a war with China itself. The Qing Dynasty started the expansion of China into Central Asian empire to gain independence from China and create