Ch. 13

European conquest truly began in the early modern era, when it was considered to be known as "Age of Empire". Europe thought globally instead of expanding in already known regions and decided to claim unknown charters. The Spanish had their sights on the Caribbean to build their empire. Portuguese settlers took over the coast of Brazil. And lastly British, French, and Dutch sailied to the eastern coast of North America. This type of expansion was a huge power surge for European because it gave them more global control. Unlike any other country, Europeans were proficient in mapmaking, navigation, sailing techniques, and ship design, this helped them to dominate the Altantic Ocean. Their motivation knew no bound. Poor nobles and commoners found a chance to gaining wealth and status in the North American colonies. Missionaries were focused on spreading Christianity throughout the new inhabitant lands. And unfortunately European diseases and germs helped them in the Americas. There diseases caused many Native Americans to get sick and eventually die off.