Early Modern Europe, particularly Spain and England, was experiencing great growth difficulties in the period before the discovery and settlement of the New World . Recovery from the Black Death, religious reform, and newly formed nation-states were at the forefront of these changes. The political environment, economics, and religion were all intertwined during the upheaval of the Old World which proved to be a driving force in the search for and eventual settlement of new lands. The Reformation and Counter-Reformation were major motivating factors in the early modern period Europe leads to the exploration of new lands. This began with Martin Luther's break from Catholic doctrine in 1519. By the time the Reformation entered the European scene, Spain had already discovered the New World and begun to settle there. One of their goals was to found colonies and convert the natives to Catholicism, so that the religion would quickly take hold in the New World. The Protestant Reformation that took place in England was pushed by the Christian Church to return to the "purity of primitive Christianity". This group was tired of the worldliness of the Roman Catholic Church that arose during the Renaissance age. Another important change was the printing press, which allowed rapid access to Luther's ideas. According to the text, “the printed word and the ability to read it would become revolutionary weapons.” From Luther's concepts came John Calvin who created Calvinism, which further refined Luther's ideas. Both Calvinism and Lutheranism were aimed at the common man. Another important religious change was Henry VIII's break with the Catholic Church. He created the Church of England, which aligned itself more closely with Protestantism than Catholicism. ... half of the paper ... the situation boils down to three common ideas; God, gold and glory. The desire to colonize in the name of God, the need to obtain wealth in gold and raw materials, and the glory of colonizing in the New World were major motivating factors. Add to that the Europeans' advantages such as weapons, horses, and immunity to their own diseases made the New World ripe for conquest. Major changes in religion, politics and economics create a perfect environment for overseas exploration and settlement. Bibliography Nash, Gary, Julie Jeffery, John Howe, Peter Federick, Allen Davis, Allan Winkler, Charlene Mires, and Carla Pestana. The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society. New Jersey, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2011.Woods, Randall, and Willard Gatewood. America Interpreted: A Concise History with Readings.Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1998.