Although many consider migration to be a recent phenomenon in the world, migration has been a part of our existence for decades and centuries. Humans have always migrated in groups and as individuals for the purpose of improving their lives. Some sought religious freedom while others hid from war and conflict. Others sought to escape hunger and poverty, or sought to find new opportunities in a better economy and employment. Trading in goods has always been an important part of our past. In Europe they didn't have the materials needed to make carpets, expensive clothes, they didn't have the exotic spices that Asia had. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. Reaching Asia by land was virtually impossible due to the dangers involved. The Portuguese had already found an alternative route but did not share it with the rest of Europe. At the end of 1400 the king and queen of Spain sent the Genoese Christopher Columbus to find an alternative route to reach Asia. Columbus believed that by sea he could find a shorter route. However, instead of reaching Asia, Columbus discovered a new land on October 12, 1452. After his discovery, individuals and nations were driven to explore and settle the New World. Moving to an unfamiliar place is not an easy task, yet thousands of individuals from different nations have decided to leave everything they know for reasons such as religion, fame, food and money. During the seventeenth century, many people decided to flee England because they were not getting the religious freedom they desired. “Many of the British North American colonies that eventually formed the United States of America were founded in the 17th century by men and women who, in the face of European persecution, refused to compromise passionately held religious beliefs and fled Europe.” (America as a Religious Refuge) This happened because at the time, many people in Europe believed that there was only one true religion and it was their duty to enforce it, even if it meant killing people to achieve it. “The religious persecution that drove settlers from Europe to the British colonies of North America arose from the belief, shared by both Protestants and Catholics, that uniformity of religion must exist in every society. This belief was based on the belief that there is only one true religion and that it was the duty of civil authorities to impose it, by force if necessary, in the interests of saving the souls of all citizens.” (America as a religious refuge) Many English citizens did not agree and so they decided to leave everything behind and settle in the New World. For other countries, they came to the New World because it would bring them wealth. Rumors circulated throughout Spain that there was plenty of gold in the lands Columbus found. The overall purpose of Spain's settlement of the New World was to acquire new wealth. Mexico provided that wealth in the form of gold and silver, but it also provided an obstacle to settlement in the form of the Aztecs. However, greatly aided by the smallpox disease, Cortes eventually defeated and conquered the Aztecs and Spain acquired its wealth. (Why Europeans Came to America) Although it was difficult, they found silver and gold and made a lot of profit from it. Because gold and silver were one of the most important things for the European economy. The Spanish sent explorers who would be able to exploit the gold and silver. For reasons like this, individuals and.