Motivations For Exploration Essay, Research Paper
Until the late 1400 & # 8217 ; s, Europeans did non cognize the being of the two American continents ( North and South America ) . To the European adventurers, researching the other side of the Atlantic was like researching an full different universe, hence the name- the New World. In 1492, Christopher Columbus unwittingly discovered the new continent. His original motivations for researching was to happen an easier path to Asia but alternatively, he discovered the New World. Thus ; Spain, France and England began directing out conquistadors and adventurers to the chartless terrains of the new continent. Motivations for the Spanish, Gallic, and English adventurers varied greatly, nevertheless, they were similar in some ways.
The motivations of the Spanish adventurers were acquisition of mineral wealth, spread of Christianity, hunt of El Dorado, hunt of Northwestern Passage, and bang of escapade. The hoarded wealths that Columbus brought back to Spain enticed many adventuresome adventurers and sent them seeking for gold and Ag. Missionary reverends sought to function God by change overing the indigens to Christianity. By 1634, the country of contemporary Florida and Georgia was home to 30 Spanish missionaries, 44 missional
Stationss, and 30,000 Indian converts to Catholicism. Within a few decennaries, Spanish adventurers became familiar with the northern seashore of South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic shore of North America, the Isthmus of Panama, the Gulf of Mexico and conclusively- the general lineations of the New World. Despite their cognition, the Spanish persisted in seeking for a Northwest Passage. Some persons were trying to get away from spiritual, political, economic subjugation and the apparently eternal figure of wars in Europe. The New World offered ownership of land and bang of escapade. During the sixteenth century, a great trade of researching was spent on seeking for the fabled? El Dorado, & # 8217 ; which is defined as a topographic point of huge wealths or copiousness.
Like the Spanish power, France was impelled by a desire to distribute Christianity, to happen wealth, and to counter the attempts of other states. France besides hoped to happen a new H2O path to the East through the North American Continent. Gallic adventurers sailed down the St. Lawrence, across the waterways of Canada, through the Great Lakes, and eventually to the Mississippi River and its huge drainage system. They did non happen the Northwestern Passageway but found eternal woods filled with fur-bearing animate beings and Indians eager to merchandise alternatively. Using the animate beings as a resource, the Gallic became outstanding in the New
World chiefly with fur trade. Unlike adventurers such as Soto and colonisers at Roanoke, the bargainers realized the importance of covering with the Indians and was accordingly more successful. And from the fur trade, merchandising stations were established. The mendicants brought Christianity to the Indians. The Gallic missionaries had a less permanent influence on the native population than the Spanish. They did non happen any major missions but alternatively had many impermanent mission Stationss, where priests read multitudes and performed sacraments.
Motivations for English adventurers were the Northwest Passage, riches from colonisation, and more land. Many of them were get awaying from the spiritual wars that fundamentally took over England in the seventeenth century. Unique to the English were the motivations of the demand for more land for England & # 8217 ; s surplus population and colonisation. Because of all the cognition of the New World paved out already, England explored for the best possible topographic points to colonise and was ready to set up colonies. Of all the European influences on the United States, those of the English were the most significant and digesting. Like Spain and France, England was besides seeking for the Northwest Passage. During the period 1576-1578, Martin Frobisher made three ocean trips to the northmost portion of the New World and it was thought that he had found, at long last, the Northwest
Passage to the Orient. But after the failure of two more expeditions, the Company of Cathay went insolvents. After England defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588, England became the leader of the three major European states.
Motivations for the Spanish, Gallic, and English were likewise in that they all wanted to happen the Northwest Passage and they all had the wonder of what the New World held. However there were more differences in their motivations than there were similitudes. Spain was motivated by gold and Ag, distributing Christianity, El Dorado, and the bang of escapade. France was motivated by the successful pelt trade and trading stations. England & # 8217 ; s motive was wealths from colonisation, spiritual and political freedom and more land. From the hunt for gold and Ag to desiring more land, it all boiled down to the states being greedy. They all knew that they would gain, whether it be from gold ( Spain ) , merchandising ( France ) , or settlements ( England ) . But from these three states, America has been enriched by their heritage. A beginning of strength, this heritage still lives today & # 8211 ; centuries after the initial European geographic expedition and colony & # 8211 ; a typical American civilisation has been created.
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