what are the reasons why england conquered many countries?

Those factors were certainly important, but keep in mind the level of detail here--certainly, in a comprehensive history class, they should be at least alluded to. However, i doubt that Henry the Navigator was influenced by the fall of the vestige of the Roman Empire to the Turks, as it occurred in 1453, and Henry's interest likely dates to his father's capture of Ceuta in Morrocco in 1415--almost 40 years before the fall of Constantinople.

I left North America out the picture, too, even though European fishermen, whalers and seal hunters had been going there for centuries. However, they generally weren't telling anyone else, because they didn't want any competition for resources. I'm sure the Portuguese tried to keep their sudden new sources of gold dust and ivory, and, eventually, of spices, a secret, too. But when you suddenly have lots of valuable items to sell, at discount prices the Italians can't been, and are getting rich off of it, the cat is out of the bag by then anyway.

I should also point out the other, very popular "spice" the Portuguese had to offer after "discovering" the Azores (known to the Romans, and proably visited by Roman mariners)--sugar. They did well at first growing wheat and making wine--but when one year's grape crop failed, Henry decided to hedge his bets by expanding his inventory, and started to grow sugar cane and sugar beets. Europe had few sources for sugar, was mad for it, and would pay high prices for it.

The same reasons Spain conquered many countries. Because they could.

It depends of what use we give to the term "conquering".

For example, up to the 80's, UK had the 80% control of all the communication media of the US.

80%.

I guess that now, the US might be free of such "dominium" of the UK, but who knows, because under a puppet US owner of communication media, there might be the real one UK owner pulling the strings.

Henry the Navigator introduced sugar to Madeira in 1425, while the Spanish introduced sugar cane to the Canary Islands a bit later.

Walter, i think that would have been rather difficult--Henry's captain didn't "discover" the Azores until 1427. That's what i see, at least, when i check online.

I thought i'd emphasize this, lest people thing i underrated Hinge's point. I'd say, in fact, that this was the prime motive for Henry. Although it was nearly 40 years after Henry's death, when da Gama returned in 1499 with a cargo of spices, worth more than 60 times the entire cost of the expedition, they had finally cut out the Italian middlemen, and, in fact, they had cut out the Arabs, too.

Henry's captain, João Gonçalvez Zarco rediscovered Porto Santo, and in 1420 Madeira.
Actually, this island group had originally been discovered by Genoese pioneers before 1351 or perhaps even before 1339. But this knowledge got lost.

OK, i see the difference--i was referring to the Azores, and you were referring to Madeira . . . gotcha . . .

This should help.

The Portuguese did well selling wine to the English. They had this muddy, heavy red wine which the English bought in the city of Oporto, and came to call port wine. When they were really feeling expansive (and well-heeled), they served the Madeira.

Arrogance.

Arrogance alone is worth jack shite, Charles.

When you have a few bristling warships to back things up, arrogance takes a bit of a back seat as far as the natives are concerned.

Any Spanish, French or Dutch in you, Charlie?

If so, your lot were at it just as much as the Brits. We were just a bit better at it most of the time.

Bullshit.

Carlos never lets mere blind ignorance stand in the way of having a decided opinion on historical subjects.

Apart from being rude, what else can you offer to add credibility to your indignance.

Read this first and then tell me how my statement was wrong.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire

My dad used to say the proof of British humor was their food. Port would only adds to that sense of humor.

BTW I seem to prefer stout with my fish and chips.

Rap

A wiki post? ROFL.

Declaring new territory to be Terra Nullius, and slaughtering defenceless natives is nothing to be proud of. Niether is spreading syphilis and smallpox.

Pretentious and pompous went out last century, yaswas.

Show me where I was proud and pompous.

I was stating fact. Try doing a bit of research first before being nasty, idiot.

Hahahahahah!

You're a special kind of human, right?