POLITICAL REASONS: ENCOURAGEMENT FROM RULERS British monarchs encouraged the development of colonies as new sources of wealth and power. They granted charters to groups of businessmen, like the Virginia Company, who offered to help colonists settle in the “New World.” Economic - Concerns money and wealth.
The Crusades: increased religious intolerance and forceful religious conversion
The lure of gold: finding new routes to trade Eastern goods
A thirst for glory: European competition for global dominance
