Richard Hakluyt's Discourse Concerning Western Meaning

Discourse Concerning Western Planting provides insight into fifteenth century rationale for English colonization by highlighting and elaborating on the three main purposes for expansion; God, gains, and glory. Richard Hakluyt, a Protestant minister, scholar, and author of the document, was one of the many citizens fueled by the desire for expansion. In Discourse Concerning Western Planting, he relays twenty-three justifications for colonization to Queen Elizabeth I, in order to standstill Spain's conquering of the New world. The Spaniards ravaged the New World inhabitants in many ways, for many reasons, but particularly their religion. The indians' worshipping paraphernalia were either burned or destroyed by the Spaniards in order to dispose
Colonizing the New World would flush out Spaniards in many territories. Hakluyt writes, "[… put him in hazard in losing some part of Nova Hispania…]." Building upon this, European expansion in the weakly colonized Indies specifically, would, " […take away his treasure which is nervus belli [sinew (strength) of war]." Touched on in evidence one, the brutality of the Spaniards toward New World inhabitants would lead Europeans and Indians to band together and overturn Spaniard rule. Hakluyt proclaims, "[…who would join with us or any other most willingly to shake of their most intolerable yoke…]." In more ways than one, Spain has butchered its chances for success in the West Indies, leaving it vulnerable for domination by the Europeans. Discourse Concerning Western Planting provides comprehensible reasoning for European expansion. It is evident that God, gains, and glory, the primary aspects of expansion, have clearly influenced some part in the growth of Europe. England has built quite an empire for themselves. In the last one hundred years, the UK has become the fourth richest country in the world. England has a thriving population, a bustling culture, and a influential parliament. Without driven individuals, such as Richard Hakluyt, supporting expansion, England could be in an entirely different situation