Identify the religious motivations that led to European exploration. What was the cause/effect each motivation contributed to European exploration? (1 point)
The Crusades showcased how Christian missionaries peacefully spread their religion to foreign peoples. This would later influence Christian rulers during the age of 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.
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.
Violent conversion rooted in the Reconquista and Crusades, coupled with charitable causes from Christian missions, were both important motivators during European exploration.
Other religious motivations that led to European exploration include:
1. Expansion of Christianity: Many European explorers were motivated by a strong desire to spread the teachings of Christianity to new lands and convert indigenous populations to Christianity. They saw this as a religious duty, believing that their own faith was the only true religion and that they had a moral obligation to bring salvation to non-Christians.
Cause: The motivation to spread Christianity led to the establishment of numerous missions, churches, and schools in newly discovered territories. It also brought about the translation of religious texts, such as the Bible, into indigenous languages.
Effect: The spread of Christianity had a profound impact on the culture, beliefs, and practices of indigenous populations in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. It led to the adoption of new religious practices, syncretism, and in some cases, the forceful conversion or suppression of local religions.
2. Competition between Christian denominations: Besides a desire to convert non-Christians, there was also a rivalry between different Christian denominations. Catholic countries like Spain and Portugal wanted to establish their dominance and spread the influence of Catholicism in newly discovered territories. Protestant countries like England and the Netherlands, on the other hand, sought to counter Catholic influence and establish their own Protestant presence overseas.
Cause: The rivalry between Catholic and Protestant nations fueled competition in exploration and colonization, as each sought to gain an upper hand in the race for new territories.
Effect: The competition between Catholic and Protestant nations led to the establishment of colonies with different religious influences. This shaped the religious landscape of regions such as the Americas, where areas under Spanish control were predominantly Catholic, while areas under English and Dutch control had a Protestant majority.
3. Search for new allies in religious conflicts: Some European powers sought to find new allies in their conflicts with other European nations. For example, during the 16th and 17th centuries, Catholic countries like Spain sought alliances with Christian rulers in Africa and Asia to counter Protestant influence and expand their own power.
Cause: The desire for political and military alliances led to exploration and contact with non-European powers, often based on shared religious beliefs.
Effect: European exploration resulted in diplomatic and military alliances between European powers and non-European rulers. These alliances sometimes led to joint military campaigns, trade agreements, and the exchange of technology and ideas.
Overall, religious motivations played a significant role in European exploration, shaping the encounters, interactions, and consequences of European contact with the rest of the world.