<P> The colonial empires began with a race of exploration between the then most advanced maritime powers , Portugal and Spain , during the 15th century . The initial impulse behind these dispersed maritime empires and those that followed was trade , driven by the new ideas and the capitalism that grew out of the European Renaissance . Agreements were also made to divide the world up between them in 1479 , 1493 , and 1494 . European imperialism was born out of competition between European Christians and Ottoman Muslims , the latter of which rose up quickly in the 14th century and forced the Spanish and Portuguese to seek new trade routes to India , and to a lesser extent , China . </P>
<P> The colonial empires began with a race of exploration between the then most advanced maritime powers , Portugal and Spain , during the 15th century . The initial impulse behind these dispersed maritime empires and those that followed was trade , driven by the new ideas and the capitalism that grew out of the European Renaissance . Agreements were also made to divide the world up between them in 1479 , 1493 , and 1494 . European imperialism was born out of competition between European Christians and Ottoman Muslims , the latter of which rose up quickly in the 14th century and forced the Spanish and Portuguese to seek new trade routes to India , and to a lesser extent , China . </P>
why did european countries want empires in the 19th century
why did european countries want empires in the 19th century
trade , driven by the new ideas and the capitalism that grew out of the European Renaissance
trade , driven by the new ideas and the capitalism that grew out of the European Renaissance