How does Exploration differ
from Colonization??
 Explore
– to travel in or through (an
unfamiliar country or area) in order to
learn about it
 Colonize - When a country sends a group
of settlers to a place and establishes
political control over it
**Exploration of the Americas will lead to
colonization of the Americas
Exploration
Did it exist before Columbus?
 YES!!
 Zheng
He
(1371-1433)
 Chinese Muslim
 Commander of
Chinese Navy
Zheng He’s ship
Columbus’s ship
Chinese world map early 1400’s
Map based on the maritime travels Zheng He
(early 1400s)
Other nations that likely sent
explorers abroad BEFORE
Columbus
 Scandinavians
(Vikings)
 Polynesians (Hawaiians)
 Africans
 http://precolumbianoceanictravel.weebly.com/the
-theory.html
 These
nations EXPLORED but did not COLONIZE
Language and Colonization
 An
easy way to understand and
remember who colonized what regions is
to think about languages spoken today
 For
example, what language is mainly
spoken in the US?
–
Why? The ENGLISH colonized America!
 What
language is mainly spoken in
Central and South America?
–
Why? The SPANISH colonized Central and South
America!
Why would a nation want to
colonize?
 To
build their wealth (mercantilism)
 To build the “mother” nation you
need colonies (the babies of the
nation) to bring in $$$$$
 New supply of natural resources
 New markets to sell your stuff
Competition for Colonies
 Columbus’s
voyage inspired Europeans to
settle the land so they could become
rich!
 Because of their value, European nations
were in fierce competition for colonies
 This competition would get ugly!!
What countries
will compete to
colonize North
America?
E
U
R
O
P
C
O
L
I
E
N
A
I
N
Z
A
T
I
O
N
Age of
Exploration
Simulation
Find the
!
 There
is a small piece of brown “gold”
hidden somewhere in the classroom – the
group that finds it first will share the
treasure (unless your King/Queen takes it
all )
 One group represents the Native
Americans of the region – they know
where the resources are hidden – how will
use them to your advantage?
End of Simulation!
 Think
about…
 How did you feel when the gold was
found?
 How do you think the other European
nations reacted to hearing of Spain’s
riches being found in the new world?
(How did you feel when you saw me
eating the candy?)
 What do you think this will lead to?
 What European powers do you think will
come to dominate North America?