Economic Factors:
1. Search for Wealth: Europeans sought new trade routes to access valuable goods such as spices, silk, and gold, which were in high demand but scarce in Europe.
2. New Markets: European merchants desired to find new markets for their products and expand their trade networks.
Political Factors:
3. National Prestige: European nations competed for power and prestige by claiming and exploring new territories.
4. Colonization: Establishing colonies provided a way to increase a country's power and influence, gain access to resources, and spread their culture and religion.
Technological Advances:
Technological advancements played a crucial role in enabling European overseas exploration:
1. Improved Shipbuilding: The development of larger, sturdier ships like the carrack and the galleon allowed sailors to travel farther and withstand rough seas.
2. Compass: The use of the magnetic compass helped navigators determine their direction and course more accurately.
3. Astrolabe: This navigational instrument allowed sailors to calculate their latitude and longitude based on the position of the sun and stars.
4. Printing Press: The invention of the printing press led to the mass production of maps and navigational guides, making them more widely available.
5. Gunpowder: The use of gunpowder in firearms provided Europeans with a significant military advantage over indigenous populations.
These economic, political, and technological factors combined to drive European overseas exploration, leading to the discovery of new continents, the establishment of colonies, and the expansion of European influence around the world.