European Explorers
UNIT 2: Chapter 2
The Age of Exploration
http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/explorat
ion-of-north-america
Focus Questions
Why did people explore new lands?
Imperialism: claiming and controlling new
territories for homeland
Role that First Nations played in European
exploration
Importance of European exploration today
Push and Pull Factors
Push - things that made
Europeans leave Europe
Pull things that attracted the
Europeans
Push Factors
-disruption of trade routes (can be attacked
easily and were dangerous for travel)
Push Factor
-demand for silk and spices rose
Push Factor
-growth in population
-less land
Push Factor
Competition
-more land = more power
-countries competed with one another
Push Factor
-fame and fortune
-get rich and famous for expedition
Push
Wealth
-wanted to use natural resources from
colonies to make money
-sell natural resources
Push and Pull
-curiousity
-wanted to know what else was
there
Push and Pull
-spread beliefs
Pull Factors
-furs, gold
-expansion of empire
(each country wanted to be more powerful)
Forces Influencing Exploration
In the 1300s (just after the Middle Ages), Europeans were doing a lot of
business and trading, they traveled to far away countries to get exotic goods.
These business people would bring back spices, silk, gold and jewels and even
jewelry back to their home countries of Spain, England, France, and other
European countries. The huge Mongol Empire (in China) which supported
these trading routes started to decline, therefore the protection and support
was weakening. Traders and business people were being robbed or not
allowed to travel short routes. It became more dangerous for the Europeans
to do long distance business with other.
Forces Influencing Exploration
This disruption of trade with Asia drove up the prices of Asian silk and
spices in Europe. Europe demanded exotic items but they became more
expensive as it became harder to bring back. As the supply diminished in
Europe the price went up. Some Europeans thought this might provide them
an opportunity to make a fortune. If they could find a shorter or more
secure route to Asia, then they could make more money bringing back
these exotic goods.
Technology in the Age of Exploration
http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/e
xploration-of-north-america
start at 1:58
Another Route to Asia: By Sea
Dangers:
1. It was slower.
2. It was more difficult to steer.
3. Easily get lost if you lost sight of land.
4. Bad weather could end your life, your journey,
or wreck your goods
Another Route to Asia: By Sea
- Most people of that day believed the world was
flat
- If they disagree = put to death or jailed
- 1400s ships were easier to maneuver
- They started using the compass and astrolabe to
estimate location (latitude and longitude)
Another Route to Asia: By Sea
Using New Technologies
-The Portuguese were the first to put the new
ship’s instruments to use
-They went to find a sea route to Asia
-Did not go through the Mediterranean Sea
-They explored going around the bottom of Africa
-This way, they did not lose sight of land on their
way to Asia
Where is
Portugal?
- Next to
Spain
Columbus’ Journey
- Christopher Columbus was a businessman and a
sailor who liked adventure
- Europeans wanted to find sea routes to the East
- Columbus wanted to find a new route to the Far
East, India, China, Japan and the Spice Islands
Columbus’ Journey
- Believed the world was round and if he sailed west instead of
east, he could still reach these places (a quicker and easier
route)
- He looked for sponsors
-
In 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to give
him money (they get 90% of the profit and he gets 10%)
Columbus’ Discovery
- Columbus did not find Asia
- He found the Caribbean
- Spanish travelers went to Central America where
they found some gold and the Aztec people, who
they treated like slaves
Importance of Columbus’ Discovery
- When other countries found out that there was
land on the other side of the ocean, and ships
did not fall off the ‘flat earth’, Britain, France,
and the Netherlands became interested in
exploring
- Spain controlled the route to the Caribbean
- Other countries explored the more northern
routes
John Cabot
- In 1497 Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) landed in
Newfoundland. (Although he was Italian, he was
employed by the English)
- He claimed it for Britain
- He returned with huge quantities of fish
John Cabot
- Soon, during the summer time many countries
came to fish off of Canada’s eastern shore
- They would dry their fish on land and leave back
to Europe
- On shore they met the Mi’kmaq and the
Beothuk, among other people of the east coast.
Importance of John Cabot’s Journey
- First European to be on the mainland of
North America since the Vikings
- Increased contact between North America
and Europe
Pros and Cons of First Contact
- Split your piece of paper in half
- On the left hand side write “pros”
- On the right hand side write “cons”
- Look over pp.46 - 59
- You may use these notes for your reflection
on
The Reflection
-Your paragraph should have a clear
beginning, middle and end!
-State your point of view in the first sentence
-Provide examples supporting your point of
view
-Conclusion: restate your point of view