14 and 15 centuries, with the development of social productive forces and the progress of production technology in Europe, capitalist production relations gradually developed, and capitalist handicraft workshops and commercial activities appeared in western European countries one after another. With the development of commodity economy and the expansion of market, Europeans enthusiastically pursue money and gold. Because of the development of commodity economy and the germination of capitalism in European countries in the15th century, the demand for money has increased. At that time, money increasingly replaced land as the main wealth of society and became a universal means of payment. Because it takes money to buy a lot of goods, people pay more and more attention to money. Everyone, from kings, priests and big noble to middle and small aristocrats and low-ranking priests, pursues luxury, especially businessmen and the bourgeoisie. They are keen to pursue gold, silver and wealth, then turn money into capital and exploit the surplus value created by hired workers.

Engels pointed out in the article "On the Disintegration of Feudal System and the Emergence of Nation-State": "The Portuguese searched for gold on the African coast, India and the whole Far East; The word gold is a spell that drives the Spaniards across the Atlantic to America; When white people first set foot on the newly discovered coast, gold was what they wanted most. " Columbus once said naked: "Gold is a magical thing! Whoever owns it can control everything he wants. With gold, it is also possible to send your soul to heaven. " However, the amount of gold mined in Europe is limited, and it is necessary to exchange limited gold for silk, spices and jewelry produced in the East, thus causing a shortage of gold in Europe. The greedy pursuit of gold essentially reflects the urgent demand of capitalist relations of production for plundering wealth and accelerating primitive accumulation of capital, and it has become the main driving force for exploring the new route in the East. The Travels of Marco Polo describes the wealth and prosperity of China, as well as the rich gold and jewels in the eastern countries. Its spread has prompted many Europeans to think of the East to realize their golden dream.

Spain became independent on June 1492 65438+ 10/2. It is a country in the southwest of Europe, bordering Portugal on Iberian Peninsula in the west, the Bay of Biscay in the north, France and Andorra in the northeast, and Morocco in Africa across the Strait of Gibraltar in the south. Its territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and Ceuta and Melilla in Africa. The coastline is about 7800 kilometers long. The territory is mountainous and is one of the alpine countries in Europe.

Portugal * * * Republica Portuguesa: Republic Portugal), commonly known as Portugal or Portugal, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe with the international code PT. It borders the Atlantic Ocean in the west and south, and Spain in the north and east. Cape Rocca, west of the capital Lisbon, is the westernmost point of the European continent. In addition to the European continent, the Azov Islands and Madeira Islands in the Atlantic Ocean are also Portuguese territories. /kloc-in the 6th century, it was once a colonial empire that influenced the world, and it was also an important maritime power, which greatly promoted the era of great navigation.