Exploring the Americas: Understanding God, Gold, and Glory as Motivators for European Colonization

God, Gold & Glory

3 motives for Spanish Exploration

God, Gold & Glory is a term used to describe the three main motivators for European exploration and colonization of the Americas in the late 15th and early 16th century.

1. God: The desire to spread Christianity was a significant factor in European expansion. Many European nations believed that it was their duty to spread Christianity to the rest of the world, particularly to those who were considered “heathens.” Therefore, many missionaries accompanied the explorers on their journeys to convert the native populations to Christianity.

2. Gold: The quest for wealth and the desire to find riches was a significant motivator for European exploration. The explorers desired to find new territories with abundant natural resources such as gold and other valuable minerals. They also established trade routes with the native populations to exploit the resources available.

3. Glory: Glory represents the desire for recognition, fame, and prestige that was associated with being an explorer. Many European explorers hoped to be remembered for their journeys and discoveries, which they believed would bring them fame and recognition within their own country and across the world.

Overall, these three main goals were often interconnected and motivated the Europeans to explore and colonize the Americas, leading to the eventual colonization, exploitation, and subjugation of the native populations.

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