To this end, Spain built a fort in 1565 at what is now St. Columbus, in his voyage, sought fame and fortune, as did his Spanish sponsors. God, Gold, and Glory Spain was driven by three main motivations. While they all shared a desire for wealth and power, their motivations for colonization differed somewhat, and thus the pattern and success of their colonies varied significantly. Some of these European countries fought one another for control over trade and the riches of the New World. Colonization, or the desire to establish permanent settlements, soon followed. Although Columbus mistakenly believed he had landed on an island in East Asia, later explorers added to the knowledge of the land, and-thanks in part to the voyages of fellow Italian Amerigo Vespucci-determined that Columbus had reached a “New World.” Each of the major European powers-Spain, France, the Netherlands, and England-sent explorers to the New World. In 1492, Columbus landed on an island in the Caribbean. Com missioned by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus was among the first who sought a faster, more direct route to Asia by sailing west rather than east. European countries recognized the potential profits of securing better trade with Asia and sought new routes by sea. At the same time, there were a number of improvements in shipbuilding and navigation, making it possible to travel farther and for longer periods of time. The rise in power of the Ottoman Turks and the decline of the Mongol Empire disrupted traditional trade routes. By the middle of the 16th century, however, this trade was under threat. Europeans had become accustomed to the goods from Asia, such as the silk, spices, and pottery that had for centuries traveled the Silk Road. Europe’s period of exploration and colonization was fueled largely by necessity.
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