American Exploration

European exploration in the new found Americas was spurred on in the interest of glory through wealth, trade, and God.

Following and during the banishment of the Moors from Iberia and the Spanish inquisition, Catholic favor fell upon the Spaniards for their deeds to the Pope. Though the Spanish were the ones to first discover these newfound lands, the Portuguese were at the time, far more fit to claim the lands for themselves. So the Spanish took it to the Pope, who vastly favored the Spanish- giving them the right to the new lands. After this, the Spanish were entitled to honor the Pope, claiming their lands in the name of the Catholic Church. Spanish conquistadors thought of themselves as missionaries, justifying their actions against or concerning the natives of the land, “by God”.

Though the land was not what they were searching for, they decided to extort all of its offerings for all they were worth, for it was the domain of the Spanish now. Quickly the Spanish found gold residing with their new native subjects. This land, which was once thought as just a (possibly) mediocre acquirement, must be worth more than initially estimated. The Spanish, thereon, spent many years exploring the jungles, forests, fields, deserts, and plateaus of South, Central, and North America for riches. Although not as much gold was found as what they would have wished for, the true jewel of the Americas was found in the land. Many plantations were then set up to reap the benefits of their land.

These lands that were never initially wanted, they eventually proved their worth, although there were still many attempts to travel past North America into Asia. France and England’s only hope was to find a possible passage through the vast Northern rivers of what is now Canada. This hypothetical passage was known as the Northwest Passage- though this passage would only retire there in hypotheticality. But in this land, a new gem found. The fur trade, a very lucrative business, gave a form of legitimacy to the failed expeditions by the other European nations. Trade and available resources saved America from mediocrity.