In the fifteenth century Europe entered into an age of international trade and subsequently

commercial activity. The era was marked by full swing maritime activities as well as
geographical discoveries by the Iberian peninsula, that led to the findings of the western
Hemisphere and significant expansion in America, Asia and Africa. It was the Portuguese and
the Spain who pioneered the discovery of new sea routes, encouraged voyages and formed
early colonial empires in fifteenth and early sixteenth century. They led expeditions and
patronized search. to the unknown and distant lands, and were followed by the north-
western European states. From fifteenth to eighteenth centuries the process of colonization
intensified, resulting into conflicts, wars, and rivalry. European states began to embark on a
series of explorations that inaugurated a new chapter in world history mentioned as the Age
of Discovery.

Amid the many motives which led Europeans to take part in the overseas movements of the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the desire was to strike the infidel a blow, to strengthen
their native state, to ascertain the shape and the nature of the earth, to gain great wealth or
perhaps all of these. Adam Smith had stated in 1770, the discovery of America and the route
to the Cape of Good Hope are the two most important events in history of mankind.

Many factors can be mentioned as the reason for the voyage in the 15th and 16 century but
the main factor that led to European exploration was the European economic
motivation. New trade and the search for gold and spices were the three main motives
behind Europe’s thirst for exploration and discovery. They wanted to develop new trade
routes and find new soure of resources.

Along with the idea of looking for new trade routes, they also hoped to find new sources
of gold, silver, and other valuables. Additionally, Europeans saw exploration as a way to
bring Christianity to other cultures that lived in other lands.