History The Age Of Exploration Questions Medium
Religion played a significant role in the motivations and justifications for exploration during the Age of Exploration.
Firstly, religion served as a major driving force behind exploration as European powers sought to spread Christianity to new lands. The Catholic Church, in particular, played a crucial role in promoting and supporting exploration missions. Explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama were motivated by a desire to convert indigenous populations to Christianity and expand the influence of the Church. The belief in the religious duty to convert non-Christians, known as the "Doctrine of Discovery," provided a moral justification for the conquest and colonization of new territories.
Additionally, religion played a role in the economic motivations for exploration. European powers sought to establish trade routes to access valuable resources and goods from distant lands. The desire to acquire wealth and resources was often intertwined with religious motivations, as the Church and monarchs saw economic success as a means to fund religious endeavors and spread Christianity further.
Religion also played a role in the justification of the mistreatment and subjugation of indigenous peoples encountered during exploration. The concept of "civilizing" and "saving" the "heathen" populations was used to justify the enslavement, forced labor, and cultural assimilation of indigenous peoples. The belief in European cultural and religious superiority led to the exploitation and oppression of native populations in the name of religious conversion and colonization.
In summary, religion played a multifaceted role in the motivations and justifications for exploration during the Age of Exploration. It served as a driving force behind the desire to spread Christianity, provided a moral justification for conquest and colonization, and justified the mistreatment of indigenous populations encountered during exploration.