European Exploration in the Age of Exploration and Discovery

All through the 1400s, Europeans began wandering past their borders to foreign destinations. During this timeframe, when Europeans inclined to explore different nations, they equally colonized and settled abroad. This timeframe was known as the Age of Exploration or the Age of Discovery. The Age of Exploration went down in European history during the fifteen century and endured until the seventeenth century. By the late sixteenth century, the Atlantic seaboard had become the focal point of a business movement that raised Portugal and Spain and later the Dutch Republic, England, And France to outstanding quality. The age of exploration was a vital factor in the European change from the agrarian economy of medieval times to a business and mechanical free enterprise framework. There were many motives on why the exploration and the colonization took place, but the main three were summed up as God, Gold, and Glory. "God," in other words in the reason behind converting and spreading Christianity and the Missionary work behind it. "Gold," on the other hand, is mainly for wealth and material gain, whether it is gold, luxuries stuff or even, spices; this all happens trade. Lastly, "Glory" signifies the rivalry between empires and the power each kingdom had. Some rulers wanted to discover new territories so they could expand their position and to increase their power as rulers. These three motives played a vital role in the reasoning on why the exploration and the discovery of the "New World" took place, but the most significant and important ones would be "Gold" and "Glory." These two, in particular, intertwine with each other. The sole purpose for the Europeans was to conquer foreign lands to have the chance to make a trade and receive goods to improve their countries, whether that was gold or glory. Sailing for one motive would increase the other reason.

During the time of the European exploration Portugal had the lead when its quest to explore the coast of Africa was under the influence of their Prince Henry the Navigator. Prince Henry was the first amongst the other rulers to start this exploration. Prince Henry was born in 1394 in Porto. He was the third son to King John the first. He had the urge to set sail to the east towards Africa for trade and the search of gold. Portugal was responsible for showing the way and giving interest to other countries to start and exploration for tread around Europe. Portugal turned into the first to take part in colonization and prompted the remainder of Europe following and going after wealth. At first, Europeans wanted to discover a way to Asia. But, in 1498, Portuguese chief Vasco de Gama landed in Asia in the wake of cruising along the western bank of Africa and around the southern tip to arrive at the Indian Ocean. This finding paved the way for potential European exploration and colonization and urged Europeans to head out for new grounds.

Portuguese voyagers travelled south, down the shore of Africa, to find a way to get to the Far East. Through the technology and mapping skills, the Portuguese individuals had and also Prince Henry and his interest in navigation, where he ended up opening a school for navigation. He worked closely with mapmakers, astronomers and even mathematicians to create routes and maps for the shore. On their way, they learned that there were many opportunities to make a great deal of profit from their journeys, and very quickly, they soon were pioneers in the gold and slave exchanges. The Portuguese were mainly interested in their trades and the goods they would get. After a short time, they were involved in the slave trade when they had brought a large number of Africans from their homes as slaves and sold them to wealthy Europeans to pay off the cost of the voyages and to mainly gain wealth. The Portuguese also funded a sugar production where they colonized with Atlantic Islands. Through this production, they brought a lot of wealth. In 1488, Bartholomeu Dias figured out how to advance around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. He may have gotten right to India if his team did not mutiny and went with Vasco De Gama. But on the other hand, Vasco de Gama landed in India and returned with a mass of flavours in 1499. The Portuguese were extremely satisfied by this accomplishment, and they before long commanded the East Indies exchange. Flavours, textures, and different luxuries flowed into Portugal and out to other European nations, and the Portuguese treasury increased.

Portugal’s primary reason for colonization and exploration was just for the increase of benefit and richness it gave them. But the way that Portugal colonized with the countries was not like a negation for trade; it was more like forced. They would kill and harm others to take control of their land; they would use powerful weapons to force themselves in and invade areas. For example, when the Portuguese invaded Malacca and created a massacre and seized the city. In the mid-1500s, one of the Portuguese governors, Afonso de Albuquerque, overpowered Goa and made it the regulatory place for Portugal’s Asian territory. At that point, Afonso also conquered Malacca, a vibrant city in Malay, and also Hormuz, which is one of the Persian Gulf. In the 1550s, the Portuguese travelled more down towards China and Japan, which they made a trading port at Cacao, China.

While on the other hand, looking at the Po neighbour and their exploration and colonization was also affective by Gold and Glory. While the Portuguese were looking for a way to be involved in the spices trade where the Portuguese sailed by going eastward towards the Indian Ocean, the Spanish’s, on the other hand, was trying to get the goal by sailing westwards through the Atlantic. The Spanish voyagers wanted to colonize for wealth and glory; for most of their discovery, they were mainly looking for gold and metals. The Spanish had barely any pilgrim assets in Asia; they were more distracted by the war with the Muslims when the Europeans started their goal for exploration. The Spanish voyages managed to find a way to take an island form the Philippines during 1565. Christopher Columbus played a crucial role in the exploration of Spain. Columbus was an Italian explorer, who proposed a challenging thought and announced that he could arrive at the east by cruising west. Columbus first took his idea to go west to the Portuguese but rejected it. He later went to Spain and presented his plan to the Queen of Spain Isabella and King, Ferdinand, who both were hesitant at first but then agreed to his journey and accepted to cover his voyage.

In 1492, Columbus believed that he was he arrived in Asia, but had landed in the Caribbean and asserted it for Spain, where he ended up several overpowering islands. Even though Columbus was not able to keep the islands as a permeant colony, he did open the way for potential Spanish colonization in the future in the Caribbean. In 1519, a Spanish conquistador, by the named of Hernan Cortes, landed in Mexico, who was excited about land and gold. The Aztec ruler, who was Moctezuma, whereas Cortes took the ruler as hostage After a wild fight, with the two sides confronting numerous setbacks, Cortes caught the city in 1521, and took the whole Aztec Empire, extending from Mexico to South America, which incorporated the Isthmus of Panama. When Cortes took the empire back, he was also gain with weapons that would give an advantage to the Spanish in war. For instance, armours, horses and superior weapons. Between the periods of 1531 and 1550, Spain controlled northern Mexico.

The thirst for power mainly consumed the Spanish, and also, they wanted more wealth, which they ended up conquering more lands. Looking into the late 1520s, a Spanish conquistador by the name of Francisco Pizarro, attacked the Incan Empire and took the gold and silver they had, which gave them incredible wealth. The majority of the assets originated from Farming and agriculture. For Instance, Haciendas were enormous manors and farms, which created the majority of Spanish land, where the Natives had to work eagerly. The Spanish profited hugely from this financial success, which made them the wealthiest country in Europe.

The Dutch were extreme enemies with Spain and Portugal. On that note, they also wanted to colonize to extend their exchange and increment their assets to gain superiority. The Dutch happened to be the first among other European countries to begin settlements on the North American continent. The Dutch were mainly relying on their fur trade for their economic gain and benefits. In 1609, The Dutch East India Company was run under an English Captain by the name of Henry Hudson. Hudson’s main was to find a way to northwest passage towards Asia for more wealth. But the wealth that was occurring in the Netherlands which was later on change to their colony ‘New Netherlands. They set up trading posts, and established and trade with the French and Natives, although they ran into numerous contentions with the Native clans. Despite creating some profit from the trade, the Dutch were declining dynamically and were pushed out of their territory by the English. The Dutch made numerous threats with the Natives and prompted future debates and clashes. They would trap beavers for their fur.

Other European countries were also starting exploration and colonization. In this case, it was France. They at first were also searching for Northwest Passage to Asia, but they wound up colonizing in the Americas. In 1603 , Samuel Champlain landed in New France to exchange furs and start a trading zone with the Natives. He effectively cultivated that and defeated all of eastern Canada, including Quebec, Montreal, and Nova Scotia. The French set up trading posts and lived respectively with the Natives, advancing harmony and success for some time. The French were savvy enough not to get into strife with the Indians, which would harm their trade and financial success. The French profited by the tremendous incomes picked up from the fur exchange, which they sold in Europe for its appeal and luxuriousness. The French spread their way of life with the Indians since they lived respectively and built up a good connection.

Britain was one of the world’s most significant colonizers; they were also one of the leading countries in Europe. For instance, England has overpowered many lands and civilizations. The English sailed to America for many reasons, but they were not the same reason as Portugal and Spain. Even though through their voyages, they did gain wealth and power, but that was their primary reason. They came to spread religion, politics and form new land. The first land they conquered or colonized with was in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, set up by John Smith. But the colonization did not last that long, but the desire the English had to practice successful settlement they would combine religion and economic. England colonized with Massachusetts Bay Company. By 1660 Massachusetts had a settler of a total of 40,000. By this, the English had control over the eastern seaboard of the United States. Even though England was already in power and was one of the most influential nations, the age of exploration for them was not mainly about gold. It was primarily for Glory and God.

European Exploration and Colonization has played a critical and fundamental job in setting up current countries, civilizations, and culture. The effort they put in and the struggles they went through the age of discovery is still present today. The Europeans began as explorers, yet before long, they become the makers for a new civilization. The Europeans set sail for wealth and power; in other words, "Gold and Glory," however, they left us something more meaningful, and that is a new individuality. European colonization has manufactured modern societies, and that is the most significant piece of the settlement. But sadly, numerous lives were lost in the process of making these new societies, which can never be dismissed. Colonization brought different groups of people together, such as Native Americans and Africans. Overall, the age of exploration was motived by many reasons, mainly through God, Gold or Glory. But the ones that were the most influential that made the Europeans to even start this exploration was Gold and Glory. They all wanted to gain power and bring wealth into their nations.