Europe and the Americas Exploration

Europe and the Americas

Exploration

There are varied reasons for the exploration. Two of the most believed reasons are the continuing quest for knowledge and information and the search for more resources which includes land resources and natural products such as the spices. The exploration was highly focused on achieving these two goals.

The above-cited goals were greatly influenced by the Renaissance and Reformation era. It should be remembered that during the time of the Renaissance, arts and literature flourished. The arts specifically had the most significant effect on the age of exploration. During this time, people became literally creative and it affected how people think of the world, and how things are beyond their boundaries. Hence, the need to explore the 'other' side of the world had been in the mind of the explorers. Certain questions such as the fact about the real shape of the world (Is it flat or round?), the realities behind the stories written (Is there any truth behind the 'fountain of youth? etc.), the bridging up to other nations (Are there people out there and how do we reach them?) popped up like monitors in the minds of the many as if prompting them to go and see and know the truth.

Meanwhile, one of the highlights of the age of Reformation is the awakening. It was the time when people started to establish their own beliefs towards various religions and/or gods and goddesses. When the era of exploration was initiated, many had thought of spreading the knowledge about religion, about gods and goddesses, and about religious rituals. The more people who would be aware of such belief, the more people would be accepting such belief. This is how the age of reformation affected the era of exploration.

Indeed, exploration was a product of several reasons and/or goals, all of which were, in so many ways, influenced by both the Renaissance and the Reformation period.

Spanish Settlement

Gold, Glory and Gospel" - these are the three objectives of Spanish explorers when they started to view the world. They sought of finding out resources and obtaining more 'income for their own country (and this stands for the 'gold'). They sought of 'owning' other lands and expanding the Spaniard's property and having more people who will work for them (thus the term 'glory'). Lastly, because of their strong faith in the religion, they also desired to spread the 'word' of God and make more people believe with them and accept their offer of religion (which stands for the 'gospel'). To achieve this, they planned by creating a 'Spanish empire' in the 'New World' which will be ruled by one King and he will be based in Spain. The king would then be assigning viceroys who will manage the nations that will be 'owned' by Spain. The viceroys would be reporting to the King about what is happening in their assigned area. They would also be tasked to implements plans and laws as initiated by the King, which would include imposing and collecting taxes. There would also be soldiers, in the form of conquistadors, which would be helping in the invasion and taking over of target nations and lands. Meanwhile, several missionaries would also be sent to the 'owned' lands and would be helping in the spread of Catholicism, the Spanish' religion.