Placard 1
Age of Exploration
In the 1400s, there was no refrigeration. To prevent meat from spoiling, people drowned their
meat in salt to preserve and dry it (like beef jerky). They also used a lot of spices like pepper to
cover up the taste of the salted or spoiled meat. Unfortunately for Europeans, these spices did
not grow anywhere in Europe. They were only found in Asian countries like China, Japan, and
India (these countries were known together as "The Indies"). It was very difficult to get the
spices from Asia to Europe. Spices had to be brought across thousands of miles of dangerous
mountains and deserts by spice traders, with bandits waiting to rob the spice caravans. The
alternative was to bring the spices by ship, but the sea voyage was also dangerous because of
pirates and storms. Since it was so difficult to get spices from Asia to Europe, spices were very
expensive.
In 1453, spices became even more expensive and difficult to find in Europe when the land route
from Asia to Europe was cut-off by the Turkish Empire. The European rulers tried several
times to defeat the Turks in battle, but they were turned back each time.
Several European rulers finally decided to try to find a route around the Turkish Empire. If a
country could find a way to get these valuable spices to Europe, the rulers would be very rich.
S. Abraham - 2008
In the late 1400s, Europeans did not know much about the world. Sailors were afraid of sea
monsters and boiling hot water at the Equator, so progress was slow. Most of them had never
been outside of Europe. The European map of the world included only Europe, Asia, and the
top of Africa. Although many people thought the world was flat, educated Europeans knew that
it was round. The problem was they had no idea how large the world was.
Europe
Asia
Africa
2
Some European rulers, especially the King of Spain and the King of Portugal, wanted to claim
as much land as they could. They wanted to take all of the natural resources from this land and
use the people that lived there as slaves to do their work. Portugal becomes the first European
country to send explorers to search for the sea route to Asia. Spain, however, would soon take
over the lead in exploration.
Christopher Columbus had an idea to sail west, instead of east, to find a shortcut to the Indies.
He thought if he sailed west, he would arrive in Asia. When Portugal refused to pay for his
exploration, he convinced Spain’s King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to help pay for it. On
October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus and his crew reached the island of Hispaniola (present
day island of Haiti & Dominican Republic) after three months in the Atlantic Ocean. Although
Columbus believed he had reached Asia, he had actually “discovered” the entire continent of
North America and claimed it for Spain. 1
The history of North America centers primarily around the struggle of England, France, and
Spain to gain control of the continent. These countries sent explorers to search for the
“Northwest Passage,” or an all-water route through the Americas to Asia. This route did not
exist but it led the explorers into the interior of North America, where they realized that the land
was not a roadblock to Asia but a major opportunity. There were riches to plunder, land to
claim, and natives to convert to Christianity. 3
In the next three placards, you will read about each of the countries’ motives in exploring and
settling in the Americas.
What motivated the Europeans into exploration?
Which European country became the leader in exploration and colonization of the
Americas?
S. Abraham - 2008
Placard 2
Spanish Exploration & Colonization
The Spanish monarchs wanted to add new territories to their kingdoms and so began their
conquest of the Americas. After Columbus’s voyages, Spain began sending soldiers called
conquistadors across the Atlantic. They were looking for riches and power for themselves. They
also wanted to make Spain wealthy and powerful. The conquistadors defeated Native
Americans as they made their way through the Americas. They made it possible for others to
follow them and build towns, roads, mines, farms, and ranches.
Spain claimed a large area of land in North America. This new empire, or territory, was called
“New Spain.” It was made up of the present southwestern states, from Texas to California.
Friars, members of Catholic religious groups, also helped Spain in the Americas. Most of the
people in Spain were Catholics. Spanish rulers wanted Native Americans to become Catholic
too. Friars set up religious settlements called missions to teach Native Americans about the
Catholic religion. A mission was often the first Spanish settlement in the area. 4
How did the friars’ goals in the Americas differ from those of the conquistadors?
Predict what could happen once other European nations claim land in the Americas.
Interesting Information:
Before a voyage, explorers loaded their ships
with barrels of flour, cattle, and other foods
and livestock. These supplies often ran out
before the ships landed. In such cases, some
explorers ate wormy biscuits or rats to stay
alive. When traveling on land, hungry
explorers copied the diets of local American
Indians. Depending on where they were,
explorers ate corn, fish, prickly pear fruit, and
roots. In desperate times, explorers even ate
tree bark or their horses to survive. 5
S. Abraham - 2008
Placard 3
French Exploration & Colonization
Spain was no longer the only European power in North America. France also posed a threat to
Spanish control. To the north France claimed Canda. French fur trappers were exploring the
Great Lakes as well as the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi Rivers. In 1682 French explorer, La
Salle expanded France’s empire. He claimed all of the land drained by the Mississippi River for
France. This land extended from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. La Salle named the
region Louisiana, for his king, Louis XIV (14th).
French
Fort St. Louis
Spanish
La Salle returned to France and asked the king for permission to establish a settlement near the
mouth of the Mississippi River. He pointed out that the settlement would strengthen France’s
claim on Louisiana. The colony would serve as a military base and discourage other European
colonists from moving into the area. The French would gain a port for the valuable
fur trade. A French colony at the mouth of the river could also control trade in the
Gulf and the intrerior of North America. 5
La Salle also convinced the monarch that from Louisiana a French expedition could seize silver
mines in Mexico and French missionaries could teach the Catholic religion to the natives.
Furthermore, crops would grow well in the region’s rich soil. King Louis XIV granted La Salle
four ships and allowed him to bring 300 colonists and 100 soldiers to start a new colony. 6
On his trip from France to the Gulf of Mexico, La Salle could not find the mouth of the
Mississippi River. Instead the ships landed at Matagorda Bay off the coast of Texas. After they
landed, the Frenchman built Fort St. Louis. They flew the French flag and claimed all the lands
in Texas for France.
Predict what could happen after France establish a settlement in Texas.
S. Abraham - 2008
Placard 4
English Exploration & Colonization
Rivalries increased between England and Spain in the late 1500s. Spain had many colonies in
the Americas, but England had none. England began directing their attention to establishing
colonies in the New World as a way to extend their economic and political power. England was
mostly interested in setting up colonies along the East Coast of North America- the land closest
to the Atlantic Ocean. In time, there were 13 colonies along the East Coast.
England believed that setting up colonies in North America would provide them a market for
English exports. They also would serve as a source of raw materials (lumber, animal hide…).
By having colonies, England hoped to increase its trade and build up its gold supply. 7
The people who made the difficult voyage to the New World had many reasons for doing so.
People who came to settle in the New World were called colonists. Colonists are people who
make their homes in a new land but remain citizens of their native country. Some came for the
adventure of settling a new land. Many expected to find riches here. Other settlers came to find
a better life for themselves and their families. In Europe, farmers had to pay high rents and
taxes. In the New World, there seemed to be endless land for farming. The settlers considered
this land to be free. They did not pay the Native Americans for the land. This “free” land
attracted more and more people to the New World. With high hopes, they came to settle the
land and develop farming communities.
Another important reason for coming to the New World was religion. In Europe, some people
had been treated cruelly because of their religion. They came to the New World looking for
religious freedom. 8
People living in the new colonies were far away from their mother country. How do you
think they were able to govern themselves?
S. Abraham - 2008
Interesting Information:
In 1587 about 120 English settlers started a colony on the island of Roanoke, near
present day North Carolina. A supply ship arrived in 1591 to help the struggling
settlers, but all the colonists had mysteriously vanished. All that remained of what
became known as the Lost Colony were some rusted debris and the word Croatoan,
the name of a nearby island, carved on a tree. No one knows if the colonists starved
to death, were killed or adopted by Indians. It remains a mystery to this day.
Sources
1. http://library.thinkquest.org/J002678F/welcome.htm
2. Map http://ancientworldmaps.blogspot.com/search/label/world%20map%2015th%20century
3. HarperCollins Publisher- American History by Kenneth C. Davis, 2003
4. Glenco McGraw-Hill- Texas & Texans, Reading Essentials and Study Guide
5. Holt, Rinehart and Winston - Texas!, 2000
6. McDougal Littell- Celebrating Texas, 2003
7. McDougal Littell- Celebrating America, 2003
8. Walch Publishing- United States History, 2005
S. Abraham - 2008