Factors Leading to the Age of Exploration Military European monarchs required funds to maintain large standing armies. Technological advances in sailing and firearms revolutionized warfare and played a key role in the European conquest of the Americas.
Asian trade routes opened, beginning an interest in Eastern luxuries and greatly increasing trade opportunities. Economic Political European monarchs became more powerful as a result of the Crutades, weakening the power of the nobles who fought them. These monarchs were then able to sponsor overseas exploration to seek more wealth and power Religlous
The Catholic Church continued to teach followers to travel in order to spread the faith. Some Europeans went to the Americas to do so. The Reformation divided Europe between Catholicism and Protestantism. It motivated Protestant sects to move to the Americas to colonize, Social
People were motivated to travel as merchants because they would have the opportunity to gain affluence and rise in the social hierarchy. Interpret Tables
Which of the factors in the table do you think was the most significant in influencing

Europeans to explore other lands? Explain.​