It is generally accepted that the era of great geographic discoveries began in the 15th century with Columbus’ discovery of America. Over the next two centuries, Western European powers continued to send expeditions in search of new lands, markets, and trade routes. There are many reasons why European empires sought to discover and colonize new lands. Still, the most significant one can be identified as the economic prospects that opened once a new territory was colonized.
By the end of the 15th century, Europe was running out of minerals, especially the gold and silver deposits needed for coinage (Axtell, 1992). The Italians and Ottomans controlled the Mediterranean trade routes, making it difficult for other Western European powers to trade. Aristotle’s idea that if one sailed west, one could come to India became more popular, and Portugal decided to send an expedition in search of a new route to India (Zerubavel,2018). After that, colonization policies and exploration of new territories became essential strategies of European empires, which sought to find new markets and trade routes and occupy them before competitors (Wade, 2005). The idea of the division of spheres of influence, which is more relevant to events after World War II, began to seep into European politics as early as the 16th century. The division of South America into spheres of influence by Portugal and Spain and the division of the African and Asian continents were part of the competition of empires for new deposits, strategically essential territories, and maritime routes.
Thus, it was the acquisition of new sources of minerals and the search for safer and cheaper trade routes that were the main interest of the European powers as they explored the world. The colonies were rich in natural resources and labor because the deposits were weaker depleted than in Europe. The success of the early empires led to competition and spurred other powers to seek their trade routes and new territories.
Reference
Axtell, J. (1992). Moral Reflections on the Columbian Legacy.The History Teacher, 25(4), 407–425.
Wade, G. (2005). THE ZHENG HE VOYAGES: A REASSESSMENT. Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 78(1 (288)), 37–58.
Zerubavel, E. (2018). Terra cognita: the mental discovery of America. Routledge.