USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Columbus’s famous voyage in 1492 was in search of a western sea route from Europe to Asia. For more than two centuries, Europeans searched in vain for a water route to Asia through North America. Spaniards called this long-rumored route the Strait of Anián.

Detailed explanation-2: -The simple answer is money. Although, some individual explorers wanted to gain fame or experience adventure, the main purpose of an expedition was to make money. How did expeditions make money? Expeditions made money primarily by discovering new trade routes for their nations.

Detailed explanation-3: -The explorer Christopher Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain: in 1492, 1493, 1498 and 1502. He was determined to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia, but he never did.

Detailed explanation-4: -Europeans wanted the power and resulting wealth that would come from controlling trade. Finding all-water routes to Asia and its riches would allow European merchants to cut out Middle Eastern middlemen and reap all the profits of eastern trade. Some Europeans were also eager to spread Christianity to nonbelievers.