Old Imperialism is a term given to the period of European imperialism from the 17th century to the late 19th century, during which powers were motivated by “gold, God, and glory.” Gold referred to the wealth (precious metals and valuable merchandise) that the newly discovered lands promised to deliver. This is also somewhat tied to the fact that the discovery of gold meant getting rich which is what most of the Europeans firstly intended.Glory described the pride a monarch of Europe felt in laying claim to new land, and gospel was a reference to the desire of European powers to 'bring heathens to Christ'. Mercantilist principles drove Old Imperialism.
Throughout Western Europe, political authority was completely controlled by central governments, while leaders, such as Isabella I, were busy with the concept of how to increase the power of the state. National wealth was widely viewed as the groundwork of national power, governmental controls soon dominated nearly all of the state's domestic economy.
Read more about Old Imperialism: The Beginning of Old Imperialism, The Peak of Old Imperialism, Beginnings of New Imperialism