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Reasons For European Exploration

There were three main reasons for European exploration according to the document: improving their economy by acquiring valuable goods like spices and gold as well as trade routes, spreading their Christian religion, and gaining personal fame and glory from discovery. England specifically wanted to colonize as much of the Americas as possible to add to their growing British Empire by establishing colonies to produce raw materials exported back to Britain. Portugal's geographic position compelled them to explore the Atlantic under the leadership of Prince Henry the Navigator. Spain hoped to find a Northwest Passage to Asia for its wealth in spices and silk, as well as seeking gold and spreading Christianity. France eventually joined other nations in exploration to claim new lands, spread Christianity, and find a water route to Asia through North

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81 views2 pages

Reasons For European Exploration

There were three main reasons for European exploration according to the document: improving their economy by acquiring valuable goods like spices and gold as well as trade routes, spreading their Christian religion, and gaining personal fame and glory from discovery. England specifically wanted to colonize as much of the Americas as possible to add to their growing British Empire by establishing colonies to produce raw materials exported back to Britain. Portugal's geographic position compelled them to explore the Atlantic under the leadership of Prince Henry the Navigator. Spain hoped to find a Northwest Passage to Asia for its wealth in spices and silk, as well as seeking gold and spreading Christianity. France eventually joined other nations in exploration to claim new lands, spread Christianity, and find a water route to Asia through North

Uploaded by

Lina
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Reasons for European

Exploration
Placer le focus clavier sur le média
There are three main reasons for European Exploration. Them being for the
sake of their economy, religion and glory. They wanted to improve their
economy for instance by acquiring more spices, gold, and better and faster
trading routes. Also, they really believed in the need to spread their religion,
Christianity. Finally, they explored for their own personal interest like fame
from discovering new land.

England
Placer le focus clavier sur le média
Although, they all wanted to find the Northwest Passage the English were
motivated by a desire to colonize as much of the Americas as possible. In
order to add to the ever-increasing British Empire. England began sending
explorers to the New World in the 1580's in search of exotic food, wealth,
and mercantilism. The British wanted to create colonies that would help
produce raw materials that would be imported into Great Britain. British
companies would then refine these products and sell the finished product
back to the colonies at a higher rate. Italian navigator and explorer Giovanni
Caboto is credited with the discovery of continental North America on June
24, 1497, under the commission of Henry VII. 

Portugal
Placer le focus clavier sur le média
Portugal's geographical position helped to shape its course. Surrounded to
the east and north by Spain and having no outlets on the Mediterranean,
Portugal was compelled to regard the Atlantic Ocean as its main medium of
travel. John I of Portugal led his people into a period of high achievement.
The North African city of Ceuta fell in 1415, giving a European power its first
toehold on the African continent. Prince Henry, a Navigator and son of
John, organized Portuguese resources and information for the purposes of
exploration. Voyages were made into the Atlantic to the Madeira Islands
and the Azores.
Spain
Placer le focus clavier sur le média
The motives for Spanish exploration was to find Northwest Passage, which
they believed was a direct and efficient route to the Orient - home of spices,
silks and wealth. The Spanish explorers were in search of mineral wealth,
looking for El Dorado (the City of Gold) and they aspired to spread
Christianity. Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who sailed
across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, hoping to find a route to India in order to
trade for spices.
 

France
They wanted to claim new land to expand their empires. France also wanted to
spread Christianity and find a new route by water to the East through North America.
The French were somewhat slow to develop an interest in the New World. It was only
after a French privateer (armed ship) captured a Spanish ship with Mexican gold and
silver that attentions were directed westward. Francis I then dispatched three
navigators to the New World. In 1534, France’s King Francis I authorized the
navigator Jacques Cartier to lead a voyage to the New World in order to seek gold
and other riches, as well as a new route to Asia. Jacques Cartier was a French
explorer who named Canada after "kanata," the Huron-Iroquois word for settlement.

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