What factors led to the voyages of discovery?

Answer 1

Greed and adventure.

Answer 2

The desire for economic wealth coupled with the assertion that there had to be a way to get to those places deemed to possess wealth be it spices or gold or precious stones or a myriad of items, in time. Woman/Man's restless spirit coupled with advances in technology. In time an interesting element entered the mix. National Pride. Once a Pope decided thathe had the authority to divy up Earth between the Kingdoms of Spain and of Portugal then others snorted, "Ha, not if I find it (an intangible) and plant my Flag there," which set off frenzy of island hopping name dropping flag waving.

Another odd factor. Books. People loved to read, or have read to them, fantastic tales of faraway places. At first a trickle and then a flood of 'Narratives' and 'Journals' enticed adventuresome sorts to organize voyages of discover. This was couple with Nationalism, often an indignant explorer would confront King or Queen sputtering that it was an insult that so & so had discovered such & such and would shame the monarch into financing a votage.

Peace..........................

Answer 3

The failure of the crusades in the Holy lands and the closing of the strait where Istanbul is (I forgot the name) by the Ottomans, the closing of the strait means that merchants no longer can travel to the black sea to trade with the east which means the Europeans needs to find a way to the east.

Also the Portugese king, king Henry "the Navigator", he is not actually a navigator but he recruit and educate sailors and explorers to claim lands for Portugal.

Lastly, Christopher Columbus discovery of the Americas started the age of discovery.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Basically, food, not gold or other wealth. Remember the Middle Ages were without refrigeration. Meat had to be stored or highly spiced to make it palatable and Europeans needed a quick and easy access to spice. Adventurers went looking for 'the Spice Islands' - basically the 'East Indies'. Columbus sailed westward, thinking he could get there quicker than eastward, around the Cape of Good Hope. Thereafter, of course, the Spanish plundered South America for gold. The British went to North America looking for furs - to keep them warm.

Answer 5

wheres me gold?