In the late 15th century, European interest in long distance sea voyages peaked. Christopher Columbus set sail for what would later be described as the new world on August 3rd, 1492. He thought he had reached the Indies and for that reason, he called the island’s inhabitants ‘Indians.' In April of 1493, Columbus returned to Spain, triumphant and with gold from the Caribbean, (Engerman, Sokoloff 42).That is when the Portuguese took an interest of the new world owing to its potential treasures. Pope Alexander the sixth drew a boundary of sorts between Spain and Portugal on the new non-European worlds. This was the treaty of Tordesillas. Spain was to take the assumed East Indies while Portugal was to have the western and northern territories of Africa.
The British entered the new world in 1607. This was considerably late owing to other European countries having settled there earlier. They started a settlement in Jamestown. Countries like Sweden, the Netherlands, and France had shown greater interest in the new world. This goes for consideration that at the time (16th century) Britain was not as powerful as it later came to be, so much of the New world was still firmly under the Spaniards. The competition was shaping up. English sea dogs, under Queen Elizabeth’s command, were sent to harass Spanish ships in an efforts to end Spain’s dominance of distant sea voyages. The tides of sea travel changed when the out muscled English were invaded by 130 Spanish ships. Despite the odds, the English drove the Spanish back to their waters.
It is highly plausible that a driving force behind the Spanish voyages to the New World was motivated entirely of treasures, expansion of territory, development of Christian religion, trade and to a small part, the love of adventure. Columbus’ voyages were successful in that he brought back plenty of gold from the new world. The Spanish were seeking resources, mainly gold, and silver. The new world was inhabited by natives the Spanish considered inferior, so as far as they were concerned, the gold was theirs for the picking. Expansion of religion was another significant cause of Spanish colonization. The natives were seen as savage heathens that had to be enlightened in the ways of Christianity. Spanish conquest also brought a deep sense of pride and helped assert their maritime dominance over the rest of Europe.
Britain had flourished and unlike Spain, their interest was not so much in finding treasures but was more about space for free religious expansion,( Elliott, John). Many people in England felt constrained by the Roman Catholic Church and the many Church of England. England also experienced a population boom due to decreased mortality rates brought about by better nutrition from the new world foods like corn. This population growth, coupled with unemployment and political turmoil, created pressure on the existing English society. America provided England with land on which they could grow produce and harvest other resources from. England was becoming over populated thus making supplies all the more scarce. In their logic, giving another country money in exchange for supplies was akin to enriching that country at their expense.
Portugal colonized modern day Brazil after unsuccessful attempts at taking Canada. The Portuguese sought trade opportunities in the Caribbean at first before heading to South America. By vigorous exploits in sugar, the Portuguese reaped financial gains from their new colony. Another major factor in Portuguese colonization was in mining resources with discoveries of gold and diamonds in the 1690’s and 1720’s respectively, (McAlister, Lyle). Portugal sort to be an important economic player in Europe from increased agricultural commodities like sugar, coffee, and cotton.
France’s colonization exploits were centered on exports, expansion of territory, mining of resources and military developments regarding forts. French colonies were set up to export sugar, fish and fur back to Europe for financial gain. The French established settlements and colonies in the expansion of their territory. The French also built military forts like Charlesfort on Parris Island completed in 1562 South Carolina, (Dickason, Olive). The French were also motivated by a strong desire to explore North America, and by 1750, the controlled much of central North America.
The colonization of the New World was a scramble among the major powers of Europe. Economic boost was an important factor contributing to this, (Engerman, Sokoloff 54).Other countries like England were pushed by the need for surplus supplies and thus extra land required to produce these supplies. However, much of the earlier exploration of the New World was a creation of national pride and glory.
REFERENCES.
Bryan Hardesty. "Book 1: Discovery and Colonization of the New World (1492 - 1763)." The American Testimony. N.p., 2005. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.
Dickason, Olive Patricia. The Myth of the Savage: and the Beginnings of French Colonialism in the Americas. University of Alberta Press, 1984.
Elliott, John Huxtable. Empires of the Atlantic world: Britain and Spain in America, 1492-1830. Yale University Press, 2007.
Engerman, Stanley L., and Kenneth L. Sokoloff. Factor endowments, inequality, and paths of development among new world economics. No. w9259. National Bureau of Economic Research, 2002.
McAlister, Lyle N. Spain, and Portugal in the New World, 1492-1700. Vol. 3. U of Minnesota Press, 1984.
