Another Portuguese explorer was Da Gama. Da Gama captained the fleet of ships to reach India. There, they found many more spices and set up trading posts for Europe. This Journey opened a direct route to the overseas trade that helped for Portugal’s economy. Though Portugal was probably the largest country for exploration another center country was Spain.
This marriage provided the financial means to fund foreign ventures as well as the royal support needed to maintain power overseas. In 1492, Christopher Columbus, sailing under the Spanish flag, discovered land in a New World, which he claimed for the Spanish Monarchy. His claims paved the way for future Spanish imperialism. Due to the social structure of Spain, ambitious men sought to advance, socially and economically, through overseas expeditions. In 1519, conquistador Hernando Cortes and his army invaded Mexico.
Spain’s conquest of the New World was strictly by force. Spain’s chief opponents in their conquest of America were natives with much less advanced technology who had never seen a modern army. Because of this, Spain could easily trounce the Aztecs and Incas with small expeditions. This was very different from Russia’s expansion because Russia had to defeat nations with modern, well equipped armies. Also, Russia expanded directly from its center to the area surrounding it, allowing its conquering armies to be well supplied and manned, because they were close to home Contrary, Spain was forced to send all its supplies and men in ships on long journeys across the Atlantic, significantly reducing the amount of soldiers Spain had in the New World.
Portugal and Spain were both interested in exploring the world to find riches to increase their wealth and prestige. They both had the finances and desire to back up such risky exploration. In addition to the desire for wealth, both countries were ruled by a strongly Catholic monarchy that believed it was their duty to go forth and convert the heathen masses. On a more plebian level, men were prepared to risk their lives to gain their own land and move up higher in the noble ranks. Spain grew rich from the metals they plundered from Latin America.
While this collapse took very little time to happen, the Roman Empire’s decline took about a century to occur. After the Pax Romana, the Roman Empire started to decline. The reasons were political and economic, and they had problems with foreigners. After the guard killed Commodus, they sold power to the highest bidder. This led to chaos every time a leader died.
Great Britain sought control of Egypt to safeguard the route to their flourishing empire in India. Russia also sought strategic land in the Balkans to gain access to the Mediterranean Sea. Nations (China, Africa) that were targets of this Imperialistic game suffered heavily. Cultures were destroyed, and civilization destroyed. Some may say it was a “necessary evil”, because Imperialistic powers took control of their lands, which brought about many achievements, both industrial and economical, and modernized the areas they took control of.
Job 4: 7-21 is taken from Eliphaz’s speech to Job. After undergoing immense suffering for no apparent reason, Job curses his life and birth and seeks comfort from his friends. Although Job is a good and holy man, Eliphaz states that suffering is the result of sin. He is implying that Job’s suffering is a result of a sinful life, although we already know the true reason for his pains. In verse 7, “Think now, who that was innocent ever perished, or were the upright cut off?”, Eliphaz basically says that the good do not suffer.
The Moorish presence was ended in early 1492, when the stronghold of Granada fell. Ferdinand and Isabella, known as the Catholic kings, celebrated the victory in part by expelling the Jews from Spain. This move earned high marks from the pope, but dealt a severe economic blow to the nation. The defeat of the Moors also freed the monarchs to support exploratory ventures, including those of Christopher Columbus. The four voyages of Columbus (between 1492 and 1504) served to open the door to European exploration, colonization and exploitation of the New World, although Columbus himself never set foot in North America.
(38) It’s a shame that a new and trusting people were subject to such brutality. They probably never have foreseen the hate, bloodshed and destruction of their simple and mostly peaceful way of life. When Columbus came and took some of their peoples to Spain, the amazing and mysterious country. What were the thoughts of the Spanish people at this time? How long did it take to turn against the Native people in the name of God and gold?
The searches for the Northwest Passage led to the discovery of the New World, because explorers, looking for Asia, found what is now America. Also a thirst for power was invading Europe. People at this time wanted more riches and control. This desire for power not only invaded the merchants and explorers, but also the Kings. The monarchs analyzed that by expanding their empire they would become more wealthy and potent.