European explorers were willing to risk everything for their country.
They didn’t have much information about the new places they were going, and the journey was always dangerous. Ships could become lost or be wrecked by storms, or the crew could get sick. Still, their desire to reach the far-off regions of the world was unstoppable. They wanted wealth, fame, and adventure. They were also looking to bring glory to their country and themselves. Their journeys were often paid for, or sponsored, by monarchs seeking new trade routes, more natural resources, and new territory around the world. Many Europeans also wanted to spread Christianity. They saw it as their sacred duty.
These were the reasons so many explorers set sail for the unknown between the mid-15th and the mid-16th centuries. This was the beginning of the Age of Discovery. It was a time that changed the course of human history forever.
