Understanding The Idea of Relocation and Its’ Importance in Human Life

Though many think of migration as a recent phenomenon in the world, migration has been a part of our existence for decades and centuries. Humans have always migrated in groups and as individuals in the look and search to better their life. Some have seeked religious freedom while others were hiding from war and conflict. Others were trying to escape hunger and poverty, or trying to find new opportunities in a better economy and better employment. Trading goods has always been a huge part of our pasts. In Europe, they didn’t have the necessary materials to make rugs, expensive dresses, they didn’t have the exotic spices that Asia had.

To get to Asia by land was pretty much impossible because of the dangers that it brought. The Portuguese had already found an alternative route but they wouldn’t share it with the rest of Europe. In the late 1400’s the King and Queen of Spain sent out Genovese Christopher Columbus to find an alternative route to get to Asia. Columbus believed that by sea, he could find a shorter route. However, instead of getting to Asia, Columbus discovered new land on October 12, 1452.. After his discovery, individuals and nations were moved to explore and settle in the New World. To move to an unknown place is no easy task, yet thousands of individuals from different Nations decided to leave everything they knew behind for reasons like religion, fame, food and money.

During the seventeenth century, a lot of people decided to flee England because they were not getting the religious freedom they wanted. “Many of the British North American colonies that eventually formed the United States of America were settled in the seventeenth century by men and women, who, in the face of European persecution, refused to compromise passionately held religious convictions and fled Europe.” ( America as a Religious Refuge) This happened because at the time, in Europe many people believed that there was only one true religion and it was their duty to enforce that even if it meant killing people to make it happen. “The religious persecution that drove settlers from Europe to the British North American colonies sprang from the conviction, held by Protestants and Catholics alike, that uniformity of religion must exist in any given society. This conviction rested on the belief that there was one true religion and that it was the duty of the civil authorities to impose it, forcibly if necessary, in the interest of saving the souls of all citizens.” (America as a religious refuge) A lot of the citizens of England disagreed and so they decided to leave everything behind and settle in the New Wfo rld.

For other countries, they came to the new world because it would bring them wealth. There were rumors all over Spain that in the lands that Columbus had found there were plenty of gold. The overall purpose of the settlement of the New World by Spain was to acquire new wealth. Mexico provided that wealth in the form of gold and silver, but it also provided an obstacle to settlement in the form of the Aztecs. However, greatly assisted by the smallpox disease, Cortes ultimately defeated and conquered the Aztecs and Spain acquired its wealth. (Why Did The Europeans Come To America) Though it was hard, they found the silver and gold, and made a lot of profit out of it. Because Gold and silver was one of the most important things for the European economy. The Spaniards sent out explorers that would be able to exploit the gold and silver. For reasons like this one, Individuals and Nations were moved to settle and explore the New World.

The New world was known to many as a place for opportunities, where you could better your life and build a better one for you and your family. “During the time of colonization, profitable jobs were scarce in England, and land was very difficult to obtain because it was expensive. By moving to one of the colonies, an individual had a better chance to earn a living than if they remained in England. Once in the New World many settlers earned a living by becoming farmers, hunters, and businessmen.” (Reasons for settling in the new world) In Europe, because of its climate it was very difficult to grow food and when they were able to it was very expensive for other people to buy it. There were rumors going on that the land in the New World was so rich people could grow a lot of different goodies in it. “England's unstable economy and inflation led to much poverty. The demand for a certain raw material like wool could put many slaves out of a job if the landowner suddenly decided it was more profitable to raise sheep; thus requiring only a small fraction of the work force. Inflation also made life hard for the poorer people, who found they could no longer pay for basic necessities. People saw that moving to the North American Colonies was a great money-making opportunity.” (Novel guide) Therefore, so they would not perish of starvation, many individuals decided to set out into an adventure to the New World.

To conclude, thanks to Columbus great discovery a lot of individuals and nations decided to leave everything behind for many reasons. Them being either to escape religious persecutions or just because they wanted religious freedom, Also because they wanted to better their economy, or gain wealth and power. Though some of them were not able to accomplish why they came for because of all the sickness and the cruel winters, many of them did and thanks to them we are where we are right now. To move to an unknown place is no easy task, yet thousands of individuals from different Nations decided to leave everything they knew behind for reasons like religion, fame, food and money.