The main driver of European exploration during the Age of Discovery was the pursuit of wealth, notably through trade in spices, gold, and other valuable commodities. The desire to find new trade routes to Asia, particularly to bypass the overland routes controlled by Ottoman and Arab intermediaries, motivated explorers like Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Magellan. Additionally, the spread of Christianity and the competition among European powers for territorial expansion fueled exploration. This era significantly changed global interactions, leading to the establishment of colonies and the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures that would have lasting effects on world history.