Final answer:
The phrase 'God, gold, and glory' represents the religious, economic, and personal incentives that drove European explorers during the Age of Exploration, leading to significant global changes and the creation of European empires.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'God, gold, and glory' encapsulates the primary motives for European exploration during the Age of Exploration. Religious zeal, particularly within Catholic nations such as Spain and Portugal, propelled the ambition to convert non-Christians and reclaim lands from Muslim control in a bid to spread the Christian faith. The pursuit of 'gold' was largely driven by the desire to discover new sources of wealth, including gold and silver, which were essential for enhancing the economic and political status of European empires. Lastly, 'glory' refers to the individual ambitions of explorers and nations alike to achieve fame and national prestige through new discoveries and the expansion of their territories.
Fueled by these motives, explorers like Portuguese Prince Henry the Navigator expressed a great desire to expand the Christian faith. The search for new trade routes and the acquisition of precious metals were integral to the economic strategies of the European powers. As they 'discovered' and colonized new lands, the Europeans also sought to gain personal fame and create powerful narratives of conquest and discovery.