As European civilization progressed, the Western European countries discovered the need for raw materials to compete in Europe's developing capitalist economy. This new competition drove European nations to sponsor voyages of exploration and colonization to generate income. Spain, Britain and France were the Western European countries which began establishing empires in the Americas; competing to become Europe's wealthiest nation, through the exploitation of the lands and its inhabitants of the New World. Colonial empires stimulated …showed first 75 words of 2167 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2167 total…and Pierre Turgeon. Canada, A People's History. Toronto: MCclelland & Stewart Ltd., 2000. "British Colonization of the Americas." Wikipedia. 01 Oct. 2005. 4 Oct. 2005 <http://en.wikipedia.org> "French Colonization of the Americas." Wikipedia. 22 Sept. 2005. 4 Oct. 2005 <http://en.wikipedia.org> "Spanish Colonization of the Americas." Wikipedia. 3 Oct. 2005. 4 Oct. 2005 <http://en.wikipedia.org> "The French Fur Trade." 24 Oct. 2005 <http://www.geo.msu.edu/>