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Exploring the three main motivations that drove European nations to fund expensive voyages.
Imagine if a tiny pinch of black pepper was worth as much as a gold coin. Why would people sail across a giant, scary ocean just for a kitchen spice?
When we talk about Gold, we don't just mean shiny metal coins. For explorers, 'gold' meant anything that could make them rich. The most important treasures were actually spices like pepper, cinnamon, and cloves. In the 1400s, there were no refrigerators. Spices were used to preserve meat and hide the taste of food that was starting to go bad. Because these spices only grew in far-away places like Asia, they were incredibly expensive. If a merchant could find a faster way to get spices, they could make a fortune. For example, if bag of pepper cost coins in Asia, it might sell for coins in Europe!
Quick Check
Besides actual gold, what was one of the most valuable items explorers wanted to find?
Answer
Spices (like pepper or cinnamon).
The second 'G' stands for God. During the Age of Exploration, most people in European countries like Spain and Portugal were very religious Christians. They believed it was their holy duty to share their faith with people in other parts of the world. Kings and Queens often sent missionaries (religious teachers) on voyages. These missionaries wanted to build churches and teach their religion to the people they met in new lands. For many explorers, the chance to spread their beliefs was just as important as finding treasure.
Imagine a ship's crew preparing for a long journey. 1. The Captain checks the maps for 'Gold.' 2. The Priest prepares his books to teach about 'God.' 3. Both are working together on the same ship to reach a new land.
Quick Check
Why did Kings and Queens send missionaries on exploration voyages?
Answer
To spread their Christian faith and teach their religion to people in new lands.
The final 'G' is Glory. This was about being the best and the biggest. In Europe, kings and queens were in a constant race to see who could be the most powerful. They believed that Land = Power. If a king could claim a new island or a whole continent, his country became larger and more important. But glory wasn't just for the rulers; the explorers themselves wanted to be famous. They wanted their names in history books and to be treated like heroes when they returned home. They wanted the glory of being the first to see a 'new' world.
Think of exploration like a giant game of territory. 1. Spain claims islands. 2. Portugal claims islands. 3. Because , Spain is seen as having more 'Glory' and power in that moment.
An explorer finds a new land. He must decide his first three actions: 1. He sets up a trading post to collect cinnamon (Gold). 2. He builds a small chapel for the crew and locals (God). 3. He plants his king's flag in the ground to claim the land (Glory). By doing all three, he satisfies the goals of his country.
Which of the 'Three Gs' describes a king wanting to own more land to be more powerful?
Why were spices like pepper so important to Europeans?
True or False: Explorers only cared about finding actual gold metal.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to name the 'Three Gs' and one specific example for each without looking at your notes.
Practice Activity
Draw a picture of an explorer's ship. Label three items on the ship that represent Gold, God, and Glory (like a spice bag, a cross, and a flag).