Motives For Exploration
Until the late 1400's, Europeans did not know the existence of the two American continents ( North and South America ). To the European explorers, exploring the other side of the Atlantic was like exploring an entire different world, hence the name- the New World. In 1492, Christopher Columbus unknowingly discovered the new continent. His original motives for exploring was to find an easier route to Asia but instead, he discovered the New World. Thus; Spain, France and England began sending out conquistadors and explorers to the uncharted terrains of the new continent. Motives for the Spanish, French, and English explorers varied greatly, however, they were similar in some ways. The motives of the Spanish explorers were acquisition of mineral wealth, spread of Christianity, search of El Dorado, search of Northwestern Passage, and thrill of adventure. The treasures that Columbus brought back to Spain enticed many adventurous explorers and sent them searching for gold and silver. Missionary clergymen sought to serve God by converting the natives to Christianity. By 1634, the area of present-day Florida and Georgia was home to 30 Spanish missionaries, 44 missionarystations, and 30,000 Indian converts to
They did not find the Northwestern Passageway but found endless forests filled with fur-bearing animals and Indians eager to trade instead. France also hoped to find a new water route to the East through the North American Continent. Unique to the English were the motives of the need for more land for England's surplus population and colonization. Unlike explorers such as Soto and colonizers at Roanoke, the traders realized the importance of dealing with the Indians and was consequently more successful. The friars brought Christianity to the Indians. But from these three countries, America has been enriched by their heritage. The French missionaries had a less lasting influence on the native population than the Spanish. French explorers sailed down the St. France was motivated by the successful fur trade and trading posts. From the search for gold and silver to wanting more land, it all boiled down to the countries being greedy. But after the failure of two more expeditions, the Company of Cathay went bankrupt. Like Spain and France, England was also searching for the Northwest Passage. Within a few decades, Spanish explorers became familiar with the northern coast of South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic shore of North America, the Isthmus of Panama, the Gulf of Mexico and conclusively- the general outlines of the New World. They did not find any major missions but instead had many temporary mission stations, where priests read masses and performed sacraments. Lawrence, across the waterways of Canada, through the Great Lakes, and finally to the Mississippi River and its vast drainage system.
Common topics in this essay:
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