Discovery of new sea routes to America led to its vast lands and abundant crops and minerals attract Europeans to it. Legends spread in 17 th Century Europe about South America’s fabled wealth in gold and expedition set off in search of El Dorado, the city of gold. The Portuguese and the Spanish conquered America and precious metals, (specially silver) from silver and Mexico increased their wealth. Many victims of religious conflicts in Europe fled to America. Slaves began to be imported from Africa to help grow cotton and sugar for European markets. Europe became the centre of the world trade.