Introduction The European age of exploration, from the fifteenth to the sixteenth centuries, foresaw a sudden increase of interest in oversea exploration. This new movement was hastened and brought about by a number of causes, among them the search for wealth, the desire to spread Christianity, the improvements in sailing technology and the breakthrough of new trade routes (Pikerman par. 1). Even though a number of factors motivated European exploration, trade and wealth frequently motivated most nations. This paper will distinguish and discuss elements that led to the historic period of European exploration and conquest during the fifteenth and sixteenth century, and how the Portuguese, French, Spanish and English explorers differed in terms of their motivations for exploration and settlement patterns. The Search for Wealth The Christians and Muslims anti-religious wars and crusades of the tenth and twelfth centuries exposed Europe to the trade of spies and a number of luxury goods from Asia. After the wars and crusades ended, Europeans continued to demand for the items leading to a high demand of the goods than the supply and thus providing merchants and traders with better profits as they could charge high prices on goods (Pikerman par. 1). Muslim and Italian merchants who mostly resold the items to European traders at increased prices controlled most trade items from East. As a result, most merchants and traders desired for new sources of wealth and explored oversea nations. By the fourteenth century, European traders and merchants circumvented Muslim and Italian merchants, and found a sea route directly to Asia. Desire to Spread Christianity The Muslim and Christian anti-religious wars and crusades of 1400 not only left the Europeans with a taste for spices and gold, but also created feelings of hostility between Christians and Muslims (Pikerman par. 2). European nations were determined to fight Muslims through converting non-Christians, and Christianizing Asia, from where they obtained trade goods. Advances in Sailing Technology The invention of ships that could sail against the wind was a significant improvement that enabled sailors to move quicker. In sum, the advancement of navigation techniques to determine sea locations and direction enabled sailors’ accurate cut through their guidance and thus avoid losing sea routes. Improved and advanced naval techniques also enabled Europeans to go to other nations like India and America. Portuguese, French, Spanish and English Motivations for Exploration and Settlement Patterns: A Comparison It is worthwhile to note that English, French and Spanish explorers had permanent settlements that endeavored to mirror the old European forms in the ‘New World’. Portugal took the principal role in exploration. Guided by the desire for adventure, Portuguese explorers took advantage of the harbors and rivers that flowed to the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal’s main interest was on the Africa’s coastline and marital fame. As a result, most settlements were made along water shores. On the other hand, Spanish exploration was mainly prompted by the desire to seek for wealth, the discovery of novel beginnings of natural resources and the propagation for Catholicism (Davidson et al. 33). For example, the discovery of treasure troves in Aztec and Inca gave Spanish exp