Columbus wasn´t looking for another continent. Europeans had no idea that there was one huge, unknown mass of land west of the Atlantic. The Italian seafarer wanted to find a new route to Asia to speed trade with China, Japan and India; the Spanish kings were spurred by the rivalry with Portugal, whose sea adventurers had sailed around Africa and had even found a way to Asia. Columbus and his men, as well as all the following Spanish conquistadores wanted riches, gold, silver, ir order to compensate for the official crown expenses and to get rich themselves. The conquistadores were greedy, selfish, ruthless, shrewd and treacherous.
Greek democracy created at Athens was direct, rather than representative: any adult male citizen over the age of 20 could take part, and it was a duty to do so.
