What motives drove people to geographic research?

As the analysis of historical data shows, the main motives that led people to geographic research were the need for new territories, the establishment of trade contacts with other peoples, as well as human curiosity. In the era of the great geographical discoveries, people began to actively explore the planet, because they wanted to find trade routes to India. After the discovery of these routes, the Europeans began to explore the continents to establish their colonies there, where they could find raw materials and other useful resources.