Religion and Exploration
- Christian expansion
- After the Reconquista (1492), Spain in particular sought to spread Christianity beyond Europe, framing exploration as a religious mission.
- Crusading spirit
- Portuguese and Spanish voyages carried echoes of medieval crusades against Islam, seeking to counter Muslim power in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.
- Missionary zeal
- Missionaries accompanied voyages, aiming to convert indigenous populations in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
- Religious rivalry
- Catholic Spain and Portugal sought dominance for both faith and empire, later challenged by Protestant powers in the 16th century.
National and Personal Rivalries
- National competition
- Spain and Portugal were the earliest leaders, each seeking prestige, empire, and wealth. The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) demonstrates the intensity of their rivalry.
- Dynastic prestige
- Monarchs used exploration to enhance their authority and standing against rivals in Europe.
- Individual ambition
- Explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan pursued personal glory and wealth, often with royal backing but also with an eye to personal advancement.
- Mercenary spirit
- Conquistadors (Cortés, Pizarro) were motivated by the triad of “God, Gold, and Glory”.
Vasco da Gama (c. 1460–1524)
- First Voyage (1497–1499):
- Sailed around the Cape of Good Hope.
- Reached India in 1498.
- Returned in 1499 with valuable spices (pepper, cinnamon)
- Second Voyage (1502–1503):
- Commanded a large fleet of 20 ships
- Used violence to secure Portuguese dominance
Impact
- Established Portugal as a global trading power with bases in Africa, India, and later Southeast Asia.
- Triggered enormous profits from the spice trade, fueling Portugal’s Golden Age.
- Disrupted traditional Muslim-dominated trade networks.
- Introduced European naval dominance, often backed by violence, setting a precedent for future imperialism.
