European Exploration Research Paper

European exploration was a very important time in history. It is the reason why things are the way they are today. The three main European countries involved in the exploration were, Portugal, The Netherlands, and Spain. Exploring the Americas wasn’t always a good thing. During this time a lot of Native Americans lost their lives due to the Europeans taking over and trying to keep the new country to themselves. Overall, the three main reasons that the Europeans started exploring from 1492-1682 were to find gold, spread Christianity, and to explore new trade routes. Gold was a major reason for exploration between 1492-1682. Hernando Cortes had a great impact in the gold rush during this time. When he had landed in Mexico in 1519, and eventually had made it to Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capitol, he had seen all of the Aztec people with gold all around their bodies and soon realized how much he wanted some of his own. …show more content…
Columbus was the first person to go over to the Americas from Europe. He was a European explorer who was originally planning to find a trade route to India, but ended up landing to what is now the Bahamas. He had thought that he landed in Asia. In October 1492, Columbus went out on his voyage with the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria. When Columbus landed, he encountered people called the Taino. He later claimed that island for Spain by plating banners and renamed the island San Salvador. Some of the effects that happened after this was, people finally realize that the world was not flat, and they advanced more in science and technology. European ship captains experimented with new sailing vessels caravel, and new navigating tools such as the astrolabe and the compass. The overall consequence of the Europeans wanting to find new trade routes was, wiping out the entire population of the Tainos. Also, an overall effect is that the Europeans made technology that we still use