Hi first of all is this a part of your assignment and I don't know but I'm still going to answer cause you got like no info because it was the right thing to do
The Atlantic Ocean. Its the ocean that connects North and South America to Europe. Most early explorers came from Europe and "discovered" the Americas. The slave trade as well as spice trade used the Atlantic ocean because it's the most direct way from most of Europe.
Many countries wanted to control over many economic activities in other countries as well as utilize other countries for cheap labor. In addition, some countries wanted to explore the world and conquer for their homeland while other countries thought that their own country and race was superior to all other countries and therefore believed it was needed that they invade other countries and educate them as well as some countries practicing imperialism to convert people to their religion.