What was Cartier's primary motivation for exploration?
My primary motivation was twofold, driven by duty and ambition. First, the glory and expansion of France, under the banner of His Most Christian Majesty, King Francis I. We sought new lands to claim and resources to exploit. Second, I was convinced that a westward passage to the riches of Asia, the 'Kingdom of Saguenay,' lay hidden. My charting of the St. Lawrence River was a significant step in this endeavor, revealing a vast waterway that I believed would lead to such treasures. The prospect of discovery and the honor of France spurred my every endeavor.
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