Final answer:
European nations like France, England, Spain, and the Dutch sought to explore the New World primarily for wealth, influenced by Spain's riches. The Rise of Mercantilism encouraged trade monopolies and colonization, while religious motives also spurred efforts to convert indigenous populations and spread Christianity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reasons for European Exploration of the New World
The French, English, Spanish, and Dutch were all motivated by the promise of wealth, similar to the riches the Spanish found in South America. Initially, they sought gold and silver but instead found vast lands abundant with timber and fur. The Rise of Mercantilism, an economic theory that underscored the importance of wealth and power through trade, also played a crucial role. European nations granted monopolies to companies like the British East India Company and the Dutch East India Company to capitalize on foreign goods. Furthermore, the colonizing efforts were partially driven by religious zeal, as Catholic nations like Spain and France aimed to expand Christianity.
European nations established new trade routes, advanced their navigational technologies, and set out to establish colonies for access to raw materials and new markets for their goods. The desire to outdo Spanish and Portuguese successes, access to raw materials, and religious convictions were driving factors. The age of exploration was marked by a quest for God, glory, and gold, but most European explorers in North America realized they would derive wealth not from precious metals, but from exploiting the new territory's natural resources and establishing new markets.