First off, the main motive of exploration, in my opinion was conquest. Most exploration ships would carry with them cannons, and hand-held items, suggesting that they either prepared for, or came with the intent for a war or battle. Regardless, these items where brought every time. Also, in shipwrecks we have found medals that where given to sailors for courage and bravery. Usually, these qualities are best expressing in a chaotic time such as a battle or ambush, again suggesting hostile actions or intentions.
Next, we have trade. Trade was defiantly a major motive for exploration as well. Coins, Foods such as pineapple and corn, gold ornaments, and horses, are all items that where commonly found on ships returning from explorations. Because coins are a type of currency which is used for trading it suggests that the sailors were intending on buying goods. Back then, Horses where only found in Eurasia and where brought to the new world by sailors. Although they were first used as a mode of transportation, they where also traded for local items. Finally, foods such as corn and pineapple, or gold and precious items all came from the central and southern parts of the Americas, therefore we can clearly see that the European sailors did in fact trade on their explorations.
Another motivation for exploration was most likely mapping the world. Explorers in the 1400s-1500s had a goal to map the entire world once they knew it was flat and did not fear falling off the edge. There is even physical evidence that suggests that this is true. First of all, there are many measuring tools, such as compasses and astrolabes, along with incomplete maps, found in the ruins of ships. These items are an indication that the sailors upgraded their old maps on their voyage. Also, horses that where found on ships where used as a way to cross large areas at a much faster pace, thereby helping the explorers map important places faster.
