The colonization of the New World is one of the most significant events of the 16th and 17th centuries. The process of colonizing North America faced many challenges, and a variety of peoples arrived in America with the prospect of not only establishing a new colony for their homeland, but establishing a new life for individuals. Representing these peoples were three countries that had significantly impacted and shaped the future of the New World. These three countries were Spain, France and Great Britain; while each country is unique in a variety of ways, the ways in which they settled in the New World are representations of the traditional and changing values ​​of their people. Important areas that help define the individuality of the Spanish, French, and British colonies are: settlement patterns, family life, financial success, importance of agriculture and industry, religion, and importance to the homeland. By examining these topics, not only would one find that the colonies have their own unique identities, but also that there are many similarities that intersect between the three. The conquest of New World exploration was rooted in the desire for gold and to increase trade within the market. In 1453, the fall of Constantinople would be the basis for the closure of eastern trade routes, forcing traders and merchants to push westward. Before colonization, both the Portuguese and the Spanish made a point of traveling further in search of goods and gold. The Portuguese were the first to venture further in search of gold and trade. The two most successful travelers were Marco Polo and Vasco de Game. Shortly after Marco Polo and de Gama, Spain helped send Christopher Columbus to find a trade route... middle of paper... that its colonies were playing a more significant role in their economy and had advanced the cause of conquest of the Americas. Because most of the Spaniards who arrived in the New World were men conquistadors, many men had relatives or married Indian women. The children of these peoples were differentiated in a caste system that determined their destiny. The Spanish colonies were governed by the Council of the Indies, divided into four viceroyalties also controlled by municipal powers. Religion played a dominant role in the Spanish colonies in various ways. The mission of the Spanish conquistadors was to venture into the New World in search of gold, however, the Catholic church had also sent missionaries to expand the powers of the Catholic church in the New World. Catholic traditions played a central role in Spanish colonial life.