European Changes that Encouraged the Exploration and Colonization of The New World
...n an increase in the price of land. This made landlords more wealthy and led to an increased desire for more luxury items from Asian countries. It was during attempted voyages to the coast of Asia when the New World was discovered. In the New World, other luxury items such as gold and furs were found and it made the exploration and colonization of this land very attractive. Prior to this time, governments were less organized and de-centralized. However, with the end of the Wars of the Roses in England, the political unification of Spain with the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon to Isabella of Castille, and the strengthening of royal authority that took place in France under Louis XI, Europe became more powerful financially and militarily. Also, with a decrease in turmoil at home, it made it more likely that nations would pursue options that existed beyond their own country. Additionally, there was an increasing amount of national loyalty and a desire to prove that one's home nation was superior to others. It became a competitive among nations seeing which could acquire more riches from this New World. These factors fueled the drive for exploration and colonization of the New World. The Renaissance played an important role in this interest in the New World as well. As mentioned earlier, ignorance had been a reason for a lack of interest in exploration. With the reintroduction of classic literature from such places as the Arab world, came an increasing intellectual curiousity about the world in which they lived. It caused Europeans to desire knowledge about the world and what existed beyond their own land. The Protestant Reformation in England would later spur English exploration. Although i...