Question

Europeans were first interested in exploration because they wanted to conquer new territories and gain power?

1) True
2) False

Answer 1

Europeans were driven to explore and colonize due to multiple factors including the pursuit of resources, trade, religion, and national glory, beyond just seeking to conquer lands and gain power.

Step-by-step explanation:

Europeans were first interested in exploration not just to conquer new territories and gain power, but for a myriad of reasons. The desire to acquire rich natural resources, establish trade routes, spread religion, find markets for goods, and lay claim to lands for national glory and honor were all significant motives. For example, the British were driven to colonize South Africa due to the discovery of diamonds and gold, using their superior technology in weapons and medicine to overcome the native Zulu Nation. Additionally, the competition for colonization was fierce among European powers as they sought to fortify their status as great-power nations and expand their empires.

Answer 2

Europeans were interested in exploration for various reasons including economic gain from rich natural resources, breaking trade monopolies, expanding markets and Christianity, and attaining national glory. Superior technology and societal support enabled rapid imperial expansion. Conquering new territories for power was a motive, but not the sole reason for European exploration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Europeans initially embarked on exploration not solely for the purpose of conquering new territories and gaining power but for various economic, technological, religious, and strategic reasons. They wanted to acquire rich natural resources, such as gold and diamonds, establish new trade routes, spread Christianity, and expand their markets. The essential motivations included a desire to break the Venetian and Ottoman monopoly on trade routes to the East, achieve national glory, and seize the wealth represented by precious metals and other valuable commodities in the new worlds they encountered. Additionally, they sought new sources of labor to exploit these lands, which eventually led to the enslavement and colonization of local populations and the importation of African slaves.

Factors such as superior technology in weapons, medicine, and the support from national geographical societies facilitated the rapid spread of European imperialism through Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. This enabled Europeans to easily defeat native populations, like the Zulu Nation in South Africa, and to exploit the abundant resources and labor of these regions.