What was a primary motivation for European exploration during Period 2?

The primary motivation for European exploration during Period 2 was indeed the search for new trade routes and resources. During the Age of Exploration, which spanned from the late 15th to the early 17th centuries, European nations were eager to find alternative routes to access the lucrative spices, silks, and other wealth from Asia, particularly without relying on overland routes dominated by rival powers. The discovery of new trade routes not only aimed to enhance profits but also to secure national power and influence.

European powers were also motivated by the desire to discover new lands where they could acquire resources such as gold and silver, which were essential for strengthening their economies and funding their expanding empires. The competition among nations, particularly Spain and Portugal, drove these explorations as each sought to claim new territories and resources for themselves. Explorers like Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama became pivotal figures in this quest, which ultimately led to the widespread colonization of the Americas and parts of Asia.

Promoting religious wars, establishing democracy, or merely seeking to expand territories into Asia did not serve as the primary drivers of exploration in the same comprehensive and economically motivated sense as the quest for new trade routes and resources did. As a result, the emphasis on trade and