Unit One Summary

The Spanish’s aggressive attitude and bitter rivalries with other European nations are what lead to the rapid exploration and colonization of the Atlantic and North America. The first step toward stumbling upon America occurred as the Spanish Crown employed Christopher Columbus. He proposed the novel idea of traveling directly west across the Atlantic Ocean to reach Asia, exactly what Spain needed to beat Portugal as they raced for new trading partners. The next contention fueling over sea exploration was a religious motive. Spanish rulers as well as Columbus hoped to reach Asia and “convert the Asians to Christianity and to recruit their bodies and their wealth to assist Europeans in a final crusade to crush Islam and reclaim Jerusalem.” Even if Columbus was to fail and not reach Asia, Spanish rulers thought he would at least come upon new island to be adopted be the Spanish nation. The addition of these new islands would present them with more land in various places allowing them further control of ocean territory for future routes and discoveries. Not to mention the economic advantage if useful recourses where to be found there. Overall the Spanish only had the intention to conquer its rivals and surpass the rest of Europe socially, economically, and politically by any means necessary.