What was the prime motive of sea explorers in the past?

What was the prime motive of sea explorers in the past?





Answer :
Usually it had to do with trade routes and money. If you look at Christopher Columbus, he was sent by Queen Isabella of Spain to search for a new and faster route to India (hence the discovery of the West Indies and other caribbean islands). Once the faster route was open, it would make money for the leader of the country who started the expedition.





Answer :
Most sea explorers before the era of explorers (1400's - 1600's) were simple merchants taking goods from one place to another. After Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal began to methodically explore Africa and the oceanic route to the Indies. This created a chain reaction to other European explorers.

Now to the point:
Most explorers traveled to far away places for four main reasons: God, their king, gold, and land.

God: to spread Christianity in the new world
King: To grow the wealth and power of their king and country
Gold: for personal gain and wealth
Land: goes with "King" and "Gold"

Hope this helps!