The Europeans were interested in colonizing America because of prestige, religious conversion, natural resources, and land expansion. The French, British, and Spanish empires were major colonizers in the Americas.
Along with the idea of looking for new trade routes, they also hoped to find new sources of gold, silver, and other valuables. Additionally, Europeans saw exploration as a way to bring Christianity to other cultures that lived in other lands.
Historians generally recognize three motives for European exploration and colonization in the New World: God, gold, and glory.
Two main reasons for European exploration are faster routes to Asia— the source of spices and luxury goods. Another reason for exploration was spreading Christianity to new lands.
Strong among them are the satisfaction of curiosity the pursuit of trade the spread of religion and the desire for security and political power. At different times and in different places different motives are dominant.
During the 1400s and 1500s European explorers—inspired by greed, curiosity, and the desire for glory, and aided by new technologies — sailed to many previously unknown lands.
Main Reasons For European Exploration In The 15th And 16th Century. The European economic motivation was the main cause of European exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries. New trade, and the search for gold and spices were the three main motives behind Europe's thirst for exploration and discovery.