Station 1: The Vikings
Viking routes of exploration and conquest.
Olaf Tryggvason’s Saga (written
1190s, about events ca. 1000 CE)
King Olaf was the most cheerful
and high-spirited of men. He was
agreeable and sociable, impetuous
and generous. He dressed showily
and was braver in battle than any
other man. When he was angry, he
was very savage and tortured many
of his enemies. Some he burned;
some he had torn to pieces by wild
dogs; some he had maimed, or
thrown from high cliffs. For these
reasons, his friends loved him and
his enemies feared him, and he was
very successful because some
obeyed him out of affection and
friendship, while others obeyed
him out of fear.
Viking Longship
1. Where did the Vikings travel?
2. Describe their mode of transport when
sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.
3. Infer how foreigners who meet King Olaf
would react to meeting the Vikings based
on Olaf Tryggvason’s Saga.
Station 2: Christopher Columbus
Letter of Christopher Columbus on his first
voyage to America, 1492
“…When I came to Juana, I followed the coast of
that isle toward the west and found it so extensive
that I thought it might be the mainland, the
province of Cathay [China]; and as I found no
towns nor villages on the seacoast, except a few
small settlements, where it was impossible to speak
to the people because they fled at once, I continued
the said route, thinking I could not fail to see some
great cities or towns; and finding at the end of
many leagues that nothing new appeared and that
the coast led northward…I sent two men to find out
whether there was any king or large city. They
explored for three days and found countless small
communities and people, without number, but with
no kind of government, so they returned...”
1. Describe what Columbus’ first impression of the new lands and its
inhabitants.
2. How do the native inhabitants react to meeting the explorers?
3. What reasons do you think Columbus had to continue his travels
across the Atlantic Ocean?
Station 3: Amerigo Vespucci
 Vespucci was the first person to recognize North and South America
as distinct continents that were previously unknown to Europeans,
Asians and Africans. Prior to Vespucci’s discovery, explorers,
including Columbus, had assumed that the New World was part of
Asia. Vespucci made his discovery while sailing near the tip of South
America in 1501.
1. Why do you think North America and South America are named after
Amerigo Vespucci instead of Columbus, considering Columbus arrived
in the Americas first?
2. What is significant about recognizing that North and South America were
separate continents?
Station 4: Vasco Nunez de Balboa
The Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de
Balboa (1475-1519) helped establish the first
stable settlement on the South American
continent at Darién, on the coast of the
Isthmus of Panama. In 1513, while leading
an expedition in search of gold, he sighted
the Pacific Ocean. Balboa claimed the ocean
and all of its shores for Spain... Balboa’s
achievement and ambition posed a threat to
Pedro Arias Dávila, the Spanish governor of
Darién, who falsely accused him of treason
and had him executed in early 1519.
1. Why was it such an accomplishment to discover the Pacific Ocean?
2. Why is being an accomplished explorer a threat to other people’s power
according to these documents?
Station 5: Ferdinand Magellan
April 27, 1521:
On this day, our great leader
Ferdinand Magellan has died from
the savage natives of the island
of Mactan. I, one of his most
trusted commanders, will
continue the account of this
important voyage through his
valued journal. The Spice Islands
1. Why do you think there would be a
mutiny when sailing around the world?
2.
seem ever nearer.
There were many troubles along Magellan’s voyage around the
world: mutiny, starvation, native aggressors, and storms. Despite
starting with 270 sailors and 5 ships and ending with 1 ship and 18
sailors, why do you think Magellan is still given credit for being the
first to circumnavigate the world?
Station 6: Columbian Exchange
1. Using the documents above, define what the Columbian Exchange is.
2. According the documents above, who do you think benefited the most
from the Columbian Exchange? Explain.
Station 7: Dangers at Sea
1. Describe what the average day of a sailor would entail.
2. Why is eating healthy (fruits and vegetables) so important when
travelling around the world?
3. Considering all of the dangers present in sailing, why would people
still enlist in being a sailor if there is a chance of death?