Social Studies Weekly
Age of Discovery
In 1492, a Portuguese sailor named Christopher Columbus sailed three ships from Spain across the
Atlantic Ocean. Spain’s King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I supported Columbus, who hoped to
find a faster trade route between Europe and Asia. Though he never reached Asia, Columbus did
sail straight into land that became known as the “New World,” at least to the Europeans. It wasn’t
new to the people who already lived there, of course!
Seven months after Columbus first set sail from Spain, he returned triumphantly to report to the
king and queen. He brought back both gold and captured Indians. The king and queen were very
pleased to hear of Columbus’ adventures and discoveries. Secretly the two had believed there was
little chance the Portuguese explorer would ever return. Now they hoped to use the information
Columbus brought back to make Spain richer and more powerful. Spanish leaders planned further
explorations of the New World (the Western hemisphere, including North and South America).
They sent Columbus and other explorers (people who travel to gain geographical or scientific
information) back across the ocean. The explorers’ goals were not only to explore the new lands, but
also to set up settlements in the name of Spain and convert the native people to Christianity.
The explorers made their way across the ocean. They found gold and excellent land to settle. Soon,
talk of the New World reached other European powers. France and England sent adventurers to
explore North America in search of riches. Explorers claimed land for the royalty of their
countries. These countries became richer and more powerful with each piece of land the explorers
claimed, and they established colonies in the New World. Colonies are areas ruled by another
country and not by its own people. European explorers also conquered (took over) the native people
of the New World and introduced Christianity to them.
Columbus’ explorations marked a turning point in history. People from very different parts of the
world began to communicate and trade with each other. Many European countries became rich and
powerful after taking over the land and people of North America. The kings and queens of Europe
invested great amounts of money in and gathered adventurers to further explore and conquer the
New World. The Age of Discovery had begun!
Is Columbus a Villain or Hero?
In fourteen hundred and ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.”
Most children memorize this poem by first grade. For more than two hundred
years, people in the United States have honored Christopher Columbus during
October. In 1937, lawmakers named Columbus Day a federal holiday. But not
everyone believes that Christopher Columbus may be a hero to celebrate.
Columbus thought he landed in the East Indies, but he was wrong. He was in what
we know as the Bahamas. Later he explored Cuba and the area we now call Haiti.
Historians say that Columbus did not treat the natives there very well, and
evidence shows that Columbus forced some of them into slavery. Columbus and his
men even killed some native people who opposed his actions. Historians also believe
that Europeans brought new diseases that the people of North America had no
immunity against.
Other people believe Columbus is a real hero. After all, he helped open up trade
routes and begin the Age of Exploration. So the question remains, is Christopher
Columbus a hero, a villain or a little of both? What do you think?
The success of Columbus' first voyage quickly caught the attention of other
explorers. Soon, more Europeans engaged in far-reaching exploration. As they
traveled the world, they often conquered the native people they met on their
journeys. The explorers mapped the lands and established new trade routes. They
traded gold, silver and spices. Most importantly, these early explorers led the way
for several European countries to colonize, or settle, the New World. These
colonies were the groups of people who settled far from home, but they maintained
ties (close bonds) with their home countries.
Age of Discovery
England vs. France vs. Spain
When the Age of Discovery began, the great powers of Europe included England,
Spain and France. All three realized that to be the richest, most powerful nation in
the world they would have to explore and conquer as much of the New World as
possible.
England's Chance
England's King Henry VII gave Italian-born explorer Giovanni Caboto, later called
John Cabot, permission to explore unknown land for England in 1497. Cabot sailed
north of Columbus' route across the Atlantic Ocean. He claimed land in present day
Canada and explored the United States. However, Cabot believed he was in Asia.
His ship sank before he could return home and Cabot never knew what he had
really discovered.
Spain Sends More Explorers
Spain also wanted to be the great power in the world. The leaders realized they
needed to continue to explore and conquer. People heard tales of New World cities
made entirely of gold. Spaniard Hernan Cortes was determined to find gold and
silver in the New World. He sailed to present day Mexico and conquered the Aztec
people who lived there in 1521.
There were also stories of magical fountains with water that could turn old people
young again. At about the same time Cortes was conquering the Aztec, another
Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon, set off from Puerto Rico. Some people
believe he hoped to find the magic water, the "fountain of youth." He landed in
present day Florida. Of course there was no fountain of youth to be found, but de
Leon claimed the land of Florida for Spain.
France Takes a Turn
By 1521, Spain found a new route to Asia by sailing around the tip of South
America. By that time, many knew that North America lay between Asia and
Europe. King Francis I of France believed, though, that Asia was still very close to
North America's west coast. He wanted to find a shortcut - a water passage
across North America. In 1534, King Francis sent sailor Jacques Cartier to find
the shortcut, but there was no such water passage for anyone to find. Cartier
instead discovered Newfoundland in Canada. He also claimed land for France around
a river he named Saint Lawrence. However, early French settlements there failed.
It would be nearly six decades before France would have a permanent settlement
in North America.
The Oldest Permanent Settlement in the United States
When Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida in 1513, its beauty overwhelmed
him. There were palm trees, beautiful flowers and exotic birds. The day he landed
was the Spanish Feast of Flowers, or Pascua Florida, so Ponce de Leon named the
new land Florida. Both Spain and France made several early attempts to colonize
Florida, but these attempts were unsuccessful.
In 1564, word reached Spanish leaders that the French were once again exploring
and colonizing the western coastal land. This news angered the Spanish leaders.
They wanted a plan to keep France from claiming any more land and riches. They
decided to send Pedro Menendez de Aviles to Florida to establish a base from
which to attack the French.
On September 8, 1565, de Aviles and his men organized their territory. He named
the new colony St. Augustine. De Aviles and his group had two goals. They were to
continue to explore and claim land for their country because Spain wanted to
continue to find gold and other riches. The men were there also to protect the land
from other countries, especially France, and defend the trade route. They had
orders to destroy Fort Caroline, which the French controlled. In addition, the
Spanish government wanted control of the American Indians in the area.
Within a year, de Aviles and his men had forced the French out of the area. They
had also taken over the council house of the Timucua tribe and started using it as a
fort.
This makes St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest permanently settled city in the
United States. This historic city is a reminder of the importance of European
colonization in the New World.
Mapping the Age of Discovery
Before Columbus went on his first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, no one knew
much about the world. Mapmakers did not know about the landmasses between
Europe and Asia. The explorations that began the Age of Discovery changed world
maps for good. European mapmakers got new information about the world from
explorers and sailors, and they were able to fill in the blank spaces on their maps.
Maps are plane, or flat, representations of the shapes of landmasses and bodies of
water. Today’s many different types of maps include features to help people use
them. A grid system with lines of longitude and latitude makes locating specific
information on a map easier. Each map also has a scale to show distances and a
compass rose to show direction.
Even today, maps constantly change. Almost every year cartographers, or
mapmakers, change information on world maps because of new information they
discover.
Worth Their Weight in Gold
Why did early explorers want to find a quicker trade route to Asia? One reason
was to bring spices to consumers more quickly. Europeans could not grow most
spices in their own countries.
Spices we use often like salt, pepper, cinnamon, cloves and ginger were hard to find
and very valuable back then. So, why were these spices so important?
Well, in Columbus' time, there were no refrigerators. Food often spoiled before
people could eat it. Spices came to the rescue! Spices like salt helped dry and
preserve meats. Other spices hid the flavor or not so fresh food. People also used
spices to make medicines, perfume and incense, which produces a fragrant odor
when burned.
Valuable spices were the same as money in some places. People often paid for
housing or animals with spices. During the Middle Ages, some said a sack of pepper
was worth a man's life. And that's nothing to sneeze at!
Clarity of Expression: Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson was an English sea captain and explorer who started off as a failure.
He sailed on two voyages for England to find a northeast water route to the rich
spice trade in Asia. But both times the icy northern seas blocked his way. He had
to return home defeated.
Sounds like the end of his career, right? It wasn't. Hudson next convinced the
Dutch East India Company to hire him for exactly the same expedition. In 1609
Hudson and his crew sailed west across the Atlantic. He reached the New World,
landing on the island we know today as Manhattan. He sailed inland up a wide river
and explored the surrounding valley.
It wasn't a passage to Asia. But Hudson's explorations allowed the Dutch to claim
the land and build a fur trading post there in 1614, before the Pilgrims arrived. A
Dutch settlement called New Netherland soon followed.
Unfortunately, Hudson's last voyage ended in mutiny. He refused his crew's
demands to return home, so the sailors took over the ship, setting Hudson adrift in
a small boat. His fate is unknown, but his legacy is Hudson Bay, Hudson River,
Hudson Valley and the Dutch settlement that became New York City.
Henry Hudson must have had excellent clarity of expression. He had to be able to
explain clearly to the Dutch that his experience and determination made him the
best man for the job, even though he was an Englishman and not a Dutchman.
Think about a time that you wanted to convince your parents or teachers to let you
try something new. Did you beg and plead? Or did you give them a clear explanation
of your reasons? Which way do you think works better?