Why did Europeans explore the world's oceans and colonize the Americas?

Answer 1

For the resources to be found to support their economy (Mercantilism), meaning exporting more than you import. They believed that they could find a route to Asia for its spice trade due to the Turkish Empire taking over the land trade routes. They did find land but it wasn't Asia... Nevertheless they found a source of labor (natives were used as slaves or serfs to get the goods), and fertile land for settlers to farm. These goods were used to fight the wars between European countries and the Turks for more goods and monopoly to support they hungry economy etc etc you get my point. For the resources to be found to support their economy (Mercantilism), meaning exporting more than you import. They believed that they could find a route to Asia for its spice trade due to the Turkish Empire taking over the land trade routes. They did find land but it wasn't Asia... Nevertheless they found a source of labor (natives were used as slaves or serfs to get the goods), and fertile land for settlers to farm. These goods were used to fight the wars between European countries and the Turks for more goods and monopoly to support they hungry economy etc etc you get my point.