THE AGE OF EXPLORATION
Essential Questions:
►What was the impact of European
contact on Native American cultures?
►What were the interests of the
Spanish, English, and French in the
southeast area of North America?
SPANISH EXPLORATION
Christopher Columbus – 1492
►
Sailed for Spanish monarchs, King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in search of
westward route to Far East.
►
Believed he reached the Indes; names the
native people Indians.
► Although he never sets foot on the mainland of
the continent of North America, his voyage
opens up the New World for further European
exploration.
What were the goals of Spanish
explorers?
► Gold:
To acquire riches for themselves and
the country they represent. (Some
explorers, like Columbus, were not Spanish,
but represented Spain.
► Glory: To bring power and prestige to
Spain.
► God: To convert the native people to
Christianity.
► Gold
The First G: Gold
was a hot item that explorers were looking
for, but remember that it is really wealth, not just
literal gold that explorers were after.
► Europe needed gold (and silver) to fuel the rising
banking system
► Europeans also desired spices (Da Gama’s voyage
to India made him a 3000% profit!)
► Other natural resources would come to be sold for
profit as well (timber, sugar, tobacco, ivory, etc.)
► This competition will be enhanced by the idea of
mercantilism that emerges, the idea that there
is only so much wealth in the world, and that to
make your kingdom strong you must have more
gold and wealth than the other kingdoms
The second G: Glory
►
►
►
►
The Triumph of Fame, a Flemish
tapestry from 1502.
Just like the first G, Gold,
Glory was a relatively new
idea in Europe
Came out of the
Renaissance ideal of
Humanism, and the focus
on individual achievement
With the rise of the
printing press, the idea of
gaining fame for one’s
actions was more possible
Also, individual kings
wanted glory for their
kingdoms, competition
spreads
The third G: God
Europeans had always seen spreading
Christianity as a good thing
► Especially after the Reformation,
competition will spring up
► Colonization will become a race to convert
native peoples to a particular brand of
Christianity
►
The Amazing Race Through Georgia
► Read
the account of DeSoto’s journey
through Georgia atDeSoto's Journey
Through Georgia
► Complete the statements on your handout.
► Plot the places and label them on your
maps.
DeSoto’s Exploration of Georgia
► Read
more about DeSoto’s journeys at these
sites:
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.com/nge/Arti
cle.jsp?path=/HistoryArchaeology/Archaeolo
gyandEarlyHistory/EarlyHistory/SpanishExpl
oration&id=h-2478
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/ga
histmarkers/desotoingeorgiahistmarker.htm
Gold, Glory, and God
► Read
about the motives for Spanish
exploration of the “New World” at this site:
http://www.floridahistory.org/floridians/conqui
s.htm
Spanish Missions in Georgia
► Read
about the establishment of Spanish missions
in what is today Georgia at
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.com/nge/Article.j
sp?id=h-572&sug=yClick on the link for the “List
of Spanish Missions” at the right side of this page.
Label the missions on St. Simon’s, Cumberland, &
St. Catherine’s Islands on your map.
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/mission
s.htm
Spain, France, and England Vie For
Land in the New World
► Complete
your chart of the rivalry among Spain,
France, and England for territory in the “New
World” using information found at the following
websites.
http://www.nps.gov/history/seac/outline/07exploration/index.htm
http://www.floridahistory.org/floridians/conquis.htm
http://www.lostworlds.org/gbo_ga_exploration.html
http://www.lostworlds.org/gbo_ga_exploration.html
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.com/nge/Article.jsp
?id=h-638&hl=y
European Rivalry (continued)
► http://www.nps.gov/fofr/historyculture/inde
x.htm
► http://www.gastateparks.org/fortkinggeorge
/
► http://www.nps.gov/timu/historyculture/foc
a_explorers.htm
European Rivalry (continued)
► http://www.nps.gov/timu/historyculture/foc
a_settlement_conflict.htm
► http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/ind
ex.htm
What was the impact of European
exploration on the Indians?
the articles about the Columbian Exchange
and complete the questions about this.
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/nattran
s/ntecoindian/essays/columbianb.htm
The list of items exchanged found at this site will
also be helpful:
http://www.mnh.si.edu/archives/garden/history/
► Read