Societies developed into empires by establishing far away colonies. They wanted more political power as well as new housing, farmland, valuable metals such as as gold, silver, as well as additional treasures, and other economic resources for their people. In several cases, the colonists landed on previously uninhabited terrain. They did, however, regularly take ownership of area where other people already lived. Furthermore, Europeans saw travel as a method of spreading Christianity to other tribes living in other locations.,fchfcmfchchfhgf