Exploration and the New World

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses why the European colonization of the New World took on such particular importance, in terms of how world history evolved, and how the Europeans were able to gain such a tenacious foothold in the Americas despite the fact that North and Central America was already heavily populated by powerful civilizations. The paper also compares the European colonization of the New World to world powers of the same period who were equally capable of carrying on similar colonizing expeditions.

From the Paper:

"First of all, unlike the Asian, Arab, and earlier Scandinavian powers, which were all equally capable of carrying on similar colonizing expeditions, the European colonizers were driven by universalizing, expansive religious ideologies that refused to acknowledge pluralism and toleration. For example, the Puritans cast family and nation behind to create a new society, entirely governed by their religious laws. The conquistadors went fiercely and determinedly in search of economic opportunities not provided by their own society and nation. This gave these individuals a zealous and determined sense of conquest. In contrast, most of the indigenous societies these colonizers confronted were self-sustained and self-contained, and had no reason or knowledge of other societies outside of their immediate framework. They were not equipped, militarily or philosophically, to cope with such an onslaught."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Scammell, G.V. The First Imperial Age: European Overseas Expansion, 1400-1715. Routledge, 1989.

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