Create a new account

It's simple, and free.

The history of Europe

The history of Europe contains the history of the United States. The Roman Empire continuously sought new lands because it sought new conquests. When the empire fell, Europe was left alone and defenseless against its enemies. Satisfied with Christianity, the people sought little else. However, those people who traveled on pilgrimage to the Holy Land were attacked by Moslems. In response, the nations of Europe began the Crusades. This exposure to new lands sparked new tastes, and exploration began again. This time, however, people sought new lands for new opportunities (16).

Most of the new lands were found by traders, and the trading businesses were largely monopolized by Italian city states (3). Portugal was able to crack this monopoly by finding the route around Africa to Asia (5). Thus, Christopher Columbus, though Italian, went to Spain with his plan. Neither the Italian nor Portuguese governments needed it. Spain, left out of the trading business but having just rid the land of Moslems and Jews, also sought new opportunities. They found these opportunities in Columbus' plans to find the East by sailing west.

Once people realized the New World Columbus discovered was not Asia, the European nations began claiming their own sections (1623). Unlike the Asian nations which had wellestablished governments with strong armies, Cortes, Pizarro, and the other conquistadors found a people organized but easily disorganized by superstition. They were willing to fight, but just as willing to betray their own. Thus, Spain, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, and England all found land and wealth in the New World.

England, though a late arrival, ended up dominating the New World. Her first permanent colony in 1607 at Jamestown was founded for the purpose of growing tobacco to sell back in England. In 1620 "Separatists" from the official Church of England landed at Plymouth Rock in what is now Massachusetts. Then it was c...

Page 1 of 12 Next >

More on The history of Europe...

Loading...
APA     MLA     Chicago
The history of Europe. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 03:39, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1708884.html