Motives for Exploration Essay Example

The motivations of Spanish, French, and English explorers varied, but in certain aspects, they overlapped. One shared goal among all three was to discover the Northwest Passage, a direct and efficient route believed to lead to the wealthy Orient, renowned for its spices, silk, and prosperity. Another common objective was to acquire new territories and expand their empires. The Spanish explorers were particularly interested in finding mineral riches, specifically seeking El Dorado, the legendary City of Gold. Additionally, they aimed to propagate Christianity.

France and England had different goals in North America. France wanted to expand Christianity and find a new water route to the East, while England aimed to colonize as much of the Americas as they could, thus expanding their empire. The Spanish colonization involved establishing settlements and gaining political dominance in a significant part of the western h