What two reasons prompted Europeans to explore in the 1400s?

* The search for new trade routes. The Ottoman Turks had conquered Constantinople in 1453, cutting off the overland trade routes to Asia. This prompted European explorers to search for new sea routes to Asia, such as the Northwest Passage and the Cape of Good Hope.

* The desire for wealth and glory. The Renaissance had sparked a new interest in the classical world, and Europeans were eager to explore the world beyond their own continent. They were also motivated by the desire for wealth and glory, as they hoped to find new lands to conquer and exploit.