MOTIVES FOR COLONIZATION BY EUROPE

What were the factors which motivated the European powers to follow the policy of colonisation?
The first major impetus towards colonization in Africa, Asia, and America came from the Iberian Peninsula, which had promoted the most significant voyages of discovery in the 15th and early 16th centuries. Since the fall of Rome, there has been no empire based in Europe which extends outside the continent. This situation changes abruptly in the 16th century, when Spain and Portugal become the pioneers in a new era of colonization. Two voyages in the 1490s lay the foundations for the future empires: Columbus, sailing west for Spain, stumbles upon America in 1492 Vasco da Gama, adventuring south and east for Portugal, reaches India in 1498. The beginning of international trading and the enlargement of the European commercial economy were closely linked with the maritime activities like geographical explorations and search of unknown lands. Portugal and Spain were the first to develop colonial empires in distant regions and provided the incentive by promoting and patronizing voyages to unknown lands. The traditional explanation for the early explorations by the European sea voyagers mentions three factors God This signifies the role of Christianity in such voyages. Gold This generally refers to the economic motives. Glory This implies those individuals who played a crucial role in the search of new territories. The Turkish rule facilitated the oriental trade. The Europeans wanted to have contact with Christians in distant land, for they believed that there were Christian communities outside Europe. Many sea voyagers and their patrons sought the Popes blessings for the spread of Christianity into the new lands. The emergence of strong centralized states under powerful rulers also contributed to sea voyages and the creation of colonial empires. Some of the

rulers took personal interest in promoting geographical explorations and in search of new territories, which later proved to be of immense value to them. The contribution of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain clearly demonstrates the role of absolute monarchs in the early phases of empire building. In Portugal, the establishment of the Aviz dynasty with the help of the bourgeoisie created new interest in sea voyages to seek economic gains. However, all these could be considered contributing factors. According to Scammell, he argues that gold was not the initial motive for the Portuguese because commercial economy had not developed to such an extent that it needed gold in large quantities. Portugal was not economically developed to such an extent that it had to carry vigorous search for gold. It was the Catalans and some Italian states which desired sea routes to the gold-producing regions. According to Braudel, the Portuguese economy was neither primitive nor elementary. For centuries, Portugal had established contact with the Muslim states and had developed a reasonable level of monetary economy, which existed on wage labour. The semi-collapse of the landed aristocracy and the rise of the bourgeoisie contributed to the development of the trade network. Foreign merchants were greatly involved in the early sea voyages. The Italian city states like Florence and Venice had concentrated huge wealth through their commercial and financial skills and invested large sums of money on these voyages. The availability of capital also played a part in the early phase of sea voyages and discoveries. The origins of Iberian imperialism reveal a basic paradox. Portuguese exploration was far more systematic and carefully planned than the Spanish voyages, yet, once discovery had been converted into conquest or annexation, it was Spain who introduced the more efficient administrative structure. The rise of nation states resulted in competition for empires and trade. Portugal and Spain sought to break the Italian monopoly on trade with Asia. Historians hold divergent views on the role of food requirements in promoting sea voyages. On the one hand, it is pointed out that the Iberian states were dependent on other states for their food requirements and this must have played a role in their search for new territories. On the other hand, it is argued that the Portuguese were more interested in other trade products rather than foodstuff. It was only after discovering the new territories that they realized the value of cultivating crops like sugar.

Technological advances facilitated sea travel. Advances in astronomy helped in charting locations at sea. Various kinds of instruments were used. Magnetic compass pointed to the magnetic north making it easier to determine direction. A number of instruments were used to determine latitude by measuring the altitude of celestial bodies - Geometric quadrant and Mariners astrolabe.