CHY 4U1 - THE AGE OF EXPLORATION ASSIGNMENT
It is very important to look at Western Civilization without solely placing emphasis on the effect
of European society on others, but also the effect of other societies on Europe. In this
assignment you will write a two page journal from the perspective of your character
considering the following:
A. The emphasis of this project will be to capture the affect each society had on one
another (the Europeans on the Non-Europeans, and vice versa).
B. What was life like in your non-European culture versus the European?
C. How is your native culture perceived by the Europeans?
D. Positives and negatives by comparison?
Be creative – Be in role – Be detailed and thorough – Be historically accurate!
You may choose any one of the following characters below
1. The year is 1530, you (Taignogny) and your brother Domagaya, sons of the Iroquois chief
Donnacona have been kidnapped from your Stadacona village (modern day Montreal)
and taken back to Jacques Cartier. Amazingly you survive the journey, however you will
never return to your homeland.
2. The year is 1523, you are a Muslim merchant living in the Songhai capital of Timbuktu.
Your mother was a Spanish peasant, taken as a wife by your merchant father. The final
stage of the Reconquista saw the Moors expelled by Ferdinand and Isabella. You have
never been to Spain but the place of your mothers birth intrigues you.
3. The year is 1521, your name is Dona Maria. You served as an interpretor and became
mistress to the great Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes during his conquest of the
Aztec empire. Having watched the fall of Tenochtitlan, you are curious about the
European world of Cortes, and decide to hitch a ride on a ship back to Spain.
4. The year is 1540, you were a conquistador fighting alongside Francisco Pizarro against
the Incas, and witnessed the execution of the Paca Inca and the siege of the Incan capital
Cuzco. You have made a fortune on the fall of the Incas and now look forward to
returning to Spain a rich and powerful man.
5. The year is 1510, your father is the Ottoman emperor Bayazid, who has ruled the Turkish
empire since 1481 when he forced his brother Jem to flee Constantinople, where he died
on the island of Rhodes, living amongst the knights of the Hospitallers. One day you will
be emperor, but for now you desire to “flee” and experience life in the European land of
the Austrian Hapsburgs.
6. The year is 1500, you are the Prince of Kongo, a black African Nation. Your father has
been dealing with Portuguese slave traders for many years. He wishes that you will
travel to Portugal to study the ways of the Europeans while at the same time sharing your
own experiences.
7. The year is 1526, you are a former Portuguese trader who has arrived in India alongside
Vasco de Gama in 1499, discovering the mysteries of the Mugal empire. You returned
with De Gama in 1502, and remained because you were enchanted with the area. You
have been told that your mother is dieing and decide to return to Portugal.
8. The year is 1520, you are a Venetian merchant, and one of several ancestors of the great
Venetian explorer Marco Polo. You have learned a great deal about his journeys and
want to retrace some of his footsteps. In an attempt to relive his experiences you traveled
to China during the reign of the Ming dynasty but now long to return to your Venetian
home.
Criteria
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Knowledge/
Understanding
Displays thorough
grasp of role-play
purpose, form, and
relevant content.
Displays
considerable grasp
of role-play
purpose, form, and
relevant content.
Displays some grasp
of role-play
purpose, form, and
relevant content.
Displays limited
grasp of role-play
purpose, form, and
relevant content.
Superior and
insightful
understanding and
use of the central
issues behind the
role-play.
Considerable
understanding and
use of the central
issues behind the
role-play.
Some understanding
and use of the
central issues
behind the roleplay.
Limited
understanding and
use of the central
issues behind the
role-play.
Uses communication
with a high degree
of effectiveness.
Uses communication
with considerable
effectiveness.
Uses communication
techniques, with
some effectiveness.
Uses communication
techniques with
limited
effectiveness.
Superior portrayal
of issues/
personalities
relevant to the topic.
Sound portrayal of
issues/ personalities
relevant to the topic.
Reasonable
portrayal of issues/
personalities
relevant to the topic.
Limited portrayal of
issues/ personalities
relevant to the topic.
(Accurate and
relevant historical
information)
Thinking/Inquiry
(Effectively
assesses the affect
each culture had
on one another)
Communication
(Spelling and
Grammar)
Application
(Convincing
believable
portrayal)