Why did European empires spread?
The overseas empires began to form in the fifteenth century. Pressure on land from the encroaching Ottoman Empire and a desire to find new trade routes through to the well-known Asian markets—the old routes being dominated by Ottomans and Venetians—gave Europe the push—that and the human desire to explore.
Why did the European countries build big empires?
Answer. In order to protect theircolonies, the European nations began to build large navies and armies. Germany had to pay huge reparations (money paid to the winning countries to help rebuild those countries).
Why did European countries dramatically expand their empires in the 1800s?
In the 1800s, European nations acquired great wealth and power from both the natural resources of the lands they conquered and the forced labor of the people from whom they took the land. Imperialists used ideas from eugenics and Social Darwinism to justify their conquests.
Why did European nations expand their power overseas?
European nations expanded their power overseas for many reasons. They needed to import raw materials for manufacturing. To protect their investments, European nations began exerting control over territories, making some into colonies and others into protectorates.
Why did European nations like England want to build empires in the New World?
England Establishes Permanent Colonies Of all the European countries, England established the firmest foothold in North America. Like the other European countries, England was motivated in part by the lure of both riches and the Northwest Passage.
What was the European expansion?
In the 15th century, Europe sought to expand trade routes to find new sources of wealth and bring Christianity to the East and any newly found lands. This European Age of Discovery saw the rise of colonial empires on a global scale, building a commercial network that connected Europe, Asia, Africa, and the New World.
Why did European countries take over other countries?
The motivations for the first wave of colonial expansion can be summed up as God, Gold, and Glory: God, because missionaries felt it was their moral duty to spread Christianity, and they believed a higher power would reward them for saving the souls of colonial subjects; gold, because colonizers would exploit resources …