Colonization is a concept perhaps as old as settlements and states, but it was in the Colonial Era when the numbers and activity of colonists sky-rocketed and became important to the world economy. Once countries like France, The United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands and Portugal began a large-scale colonization of the New World, thousands of people traveled west to cultivate land and build trading posts. These people were often resourceful, adventurous, and well-equipped, since they seldom received any assistance from the armed forces of their respective countries. No matter if they were 15th century Spaniards or 19th century Americans, they were motivated by finding a better future on lands that were considered uninhabited at the time.