Question

What are some of the indirect reasons for european exploration of the new world?

Answer 1

Motives for Exploration - Wealth and Religion. The motives for Spanish, French and English explorers were all different, although in some ways, they were the same. They all wanted to find the Northwest Passage, which they believed was a direct and efficient route to the Orient - home of spices, silks and wealth.

Answer 2

Although the direct reasons for the exploration of the New World were mainly to obtain more land and money, there were also indirect reasons that played a smaller, but significant role in exploration.

One of this reason was that of religious conversion. Christians believed that the souls of teh Native people could only be saved if they were acquainted with God. Therefore, they wanted to take the word of God all over the world. Another reason was that of scientific discovery, as many scholars were interested in learning about new places, people and animals. Finally, some people continued to explore the New World in the hope of finding a more direct route to Asia.