Why did european powers create colonies in the americas?

Because of Great Geaografic Discoveries (Age of Discovery). this age began from Christopher Columbus discoveries. And then many colonist was from Portuagal, like Vasco da Gama, but he was not create colonies? he founded a way to India. But in Americas peoples was not so advancedsuch as European countries and it was many gold and riches in this region. This history began, because of peoples in Europe though that the west way is the shortest Way to rich India. The did not know about Americas.