Motivations for the Age of Exploration

Why did the Europeans want to explore?

From the 1400s to the 1700s, Europe experienced an “Age of Exploration. “The Renaissance encouraged curiosity and a desire for trade motivations: Why did Europeans want to explore? This period began in the early 1400s and ended in the late 1700s when European explorers and merchants discovered areas unseen by Western Europe. These expeditions led to discovering new lands, markets, and technology. By the early 1400s, Europeans were ready to venture beyond their borders.

The Renaissance encouraged, among other things, a new spirit of adventure and curiosity. This spirit of adventure and several other essential reasons prompted Europeans to explore the world around them.

Causes of European Exploration

Gold "Money"

The Crusades & Renaissance stimulated European desires for exotic Asian luxury goods. Merchants began looking for quick, direct trade routes to Asia to avoid Muslim & Italian merchants & increase profits.

Through overseas exploration, merchants and traders hoped to benefit from what had become a profitable business in Europe: the trade of spices and other luxury goods from Asia.

Europeans wanted spices such as nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and pepper, all of which added flavor to the bland foods of Europe. Because the demand for these goods was greater than the supply, merchants could charge high prices and thus make great profits.

The Muslims and the Italians controlled the trade of goods from East to West. Muslims sold Asian goods to Italian merchants. The Italian merchants resold the items at increased prices to merchants throughout Europe.

By the 1400s, European merchants—as well as the new monarchs of England, Spain, Portugal, and France—sought to bypass the Italian merchants. This meant finding a sea route directly to Asia.

God

European Christians, especially Catholics, wanted to stop the spread of Islam & convert non-Christians to the faith during the Middle Ages & the Renaissance. Europe was very religious Christians wished to prevent the spread of Islam & also convert “natives” they discovered to Christianity; explorers were encouraged to spread Christianity or bring missionaries who would focus only on conversions. Explorers were urged to spread Christianity or bring missionaries who would concentrate only on conversions.

Glory

Kings who sponsored voyages of exploration gained overseas colonies, new sources of wealth for their nation, & increased power. The Renaissance inspired new possibilities for power & prestige and encouraged new opportunities (no one explored them during the Middle Ages). Exploration led to fame for the explorers & sponsor the country. They found new places & gained more land. Demand for new land & glory led to competition between countriesExploration presented Europeans with the opportunity to rise from poverty and gain fame, fortune, & status.

Trade with Asia

Europeans were desperate to get spices from Asia. Spices were used to preserve foods and prevent them from spoiling. However, spices were expensive and dangerous to obtain. Because the Silk Road was frequently closed due to various wars, European rulers began to pay for explorations to find a sea route to Asia to get spices more efficiently and cheaper.

New Techology

Methods of navigation and mapping improved so Europeans were able to travel across the sea.

Columbian Exchange

The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the rest of the world following Christopher Columbus's voyages in the late 15th century. This exchange dramatically changed people's lives on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. For example, crops like potatoes, tomatoes, and maize were introduced to Europe, enriching diets and farming practices. At the same time, horses, cattle, and wheat were brought to the Americas, transforming indigenous cultures and lifestyles. However, the Columbian Exchange also had negative consequences, such as the spread of diseases that devastated Native American populations. Overall, the Columbian Exchange played a crucial role in shaping the modern world by connecting distant continents and cultures in ways that had never been seen before.

Fall of the Inca and Aztec Civilizations

As previously mentioned, the Columbian Exchange caused many deaths due to disease, but European explorers also carried out several campaigns against the people of the New World.

Inca

Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, led a band of a few hundred soldiers, executed the Inca emperor and seized the capital of Cusco in 1533. He did so successfully with the use of weapons of steel and guns that the Inca did not have.

Aztec

Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes and his men arrived at the area of the Aztec Empire they became allies with the traditional enemies of the Aztecs. Together they marched towards the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan. Cortes overwhelmed the Aztecs by capturing their leader, Montezuma II, and by leading several key battles against the Aztec people. Aided by the spread of European diseases, such as smallpox Cortes took control of the great Aztec capital city. Cortes built Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, and it became one of the most powerful cities in the Spanish Empire.

Mass Migration

After exploring and establishing early settlements in the New World, European nations established colonies along the Atlantic coastline. Many of the colonies were used as part of the triangular trade, which also saw millions of African slaves brought to the New World aboard European slave ships. Between the 17th century and the early 20th century, millions of European people also came to the Americas.

New Trade Routs

Due to the new routes to and from the Americas, new trade routes were established to keep the exchange of products and people going.

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