Identify the religious motivations that led to European exploration. What was the cause/effect each motivation contributed to European exploration?
Missionaries were sent to convert Muslims through violent means during the Reconquista. The Reconquista was a successful experiment in using missionaries against a “hostile” religion.
The Crusades showcased how Christian missionaries peacefully spread their religion to foreign peoples. This would later influence Christian rulers during the age of exploration.
Violent conversion rooted in the Reconquista and Crusades, coupled with charitable causes from Christian missions, were both important motivators during European exploration.
Muslim conquests into Iberia and hostile Christian missionaries were two of the most important motivators. These hostile missionaries would wage war against Indigenous populations in the New World.
Additionally, the desire to spread Christianity and convert indigenous peoples played a significant role in European exploration. The Catholic Church and other Christian denominations viewed the discovery of new lands as an opportunity to expand their influence and bring Christianity to non-believers.
The cause of this motivation was the belief in the supremacy of Christianity and the obligation to save souls. European explorers saw themselves as "civilizing" and "enlightening" indigenous peoples by converting them to Christianity. They saw this as a righteous mission and a duty to fulfill.
The effect of this religious motivation was the establishment of numerous missions and the conversion of indigenous populations throughout the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Missionaries would often accompany explorers on their voyages, spreading Christianity and establishing churches, schools, and hospitals in newly discovered lands.
In some cases, the fervor to convert led to the mistreatment and forced assimilation of indigenous peoples. This included practices such as forced labor, the destruction of native cultures and languages, and the suppression of indigenous beliefs and traditions.
Overall, religious motivations significantly influenced and shaped European exploration. They led to the establishment of colonies, the spread of Christianity, and the cultural and religious assimilation of indigenous populations. However, they also contributed to conflicts and oppression in the New World.