Final answer:
The three motives behind the European race for colonies were religious zeal, national glory, and economic gain.
Step-by-step explanation:
Motives for European Exploration:
- Religious zeal: In strongly Catholic nations like Spain and Portugal, religious motivation pushed rulers to make converts and retake land from Muslims.
- National glory: European nations wanted to carve out colonies to increase their prestige and honor, and did not want to be left behind by other nations.
- Economic gain: European powers sought to acquire colonies for cheap access to raw materials and to establish new markets for their finished goods.