The move by European nations and empires beginning in the fifteenth centuries had many precursors leading up to it. The expansion was mostly the result of a quest for wealth however. New technology and new knowledge of the earth and ways to navigate it were a great assistant to mariners, and thus gave the success for riches a higher probability for success. Those reasons were only further enabled by the goal of spreading Christianity.

Wealth has arguably been the motive behind most of man's efforts throughout time. European exploration is certainly no exception. The riches of Asian and Indian goods introduced to the Europeans during

the crusades provided just the treasure to motivate the Europeans. The Arab and other foreign merchants who served as middlemen in the Asian trade caused for a tremendously high price for the consumer once the products reached Europe. Thus, ways to bypass those merchants were sought, and competition amongst the Europeans to find such a method resulted. Not only would a nation be better off financially by ridding themselves of high prices, but that nation would also be able to sell those goods for considerable profit.

The spice trade, man's quest for power and money, belief in the supremecy of their religion, and technological advances all helped to promote the expansion of European empires in the fifteenth century.

Improved technology pr

Some common words found in the essay are:
Christianity Improved, Europeans Arab, Expansion Exploration, Northwest Passage, Gama Cortez, Bartholomew Diaz, Ferdinand Isabella, Christianity Wealth, Pizzaro Peru, Asian Indian, native peoples, fifteenth century,
Approximate Word count = 506
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)