What inspired europeans to explore in apocalypto?

what inspired europeans to begin exploring the world.Include the challenges they faced and the cultures they encountered, in fluenced destroyed and how.

I hope this isn't a homework question We don't allow those.

The general idea, if you're familiar with Spanish history, is that after 700 years of Moorish rule, the Catholics wanted to extend their inquisition & religious dominance, and at the same time, expand trade / find an alternate route to India.

So, the religious zealots started the 2nd largest slaughter & persecution of indigenous people's in human history in the new world, aka, the Americas. The largest slaughter & persecution of indigenous peoples, of course, is in Africa, also committed by Europeans, largely for material gain & misplaced religious zeal.

Of course, your mileage will vary on the above...a lot of teachers don't like to talk about the negative aspect of history, because they're reporting on it from the perspective of the conqueror, not the the victims.

In that case, include stuff like "bringing the word of *insert diety here* to the ignorant masses, establishing trade, teaching people written language, and enabling them to advance their society with new technology & medicine.