Name: ________________________________________________
European Explorers
Explorer
Leif Ericson
Marco Polo
Reason for Exploration
Motives
 His father (Eric the
Red) had banished
him from Iceland
 Find new goods for
trade
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Dates of
Exploration
1002
Flag
Better trade route to
Asia
Foreign goods
1271
Italy
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Explored an overland trade route to Asia
Wanted spices, jewels, silks, perfumes for trading
Recorded his adventures (book)
First European to sail around the tip of Africa
First named the top Cape of Storms- changed to Cape
of Good Hope
First explorer to sail WEST to find a water route to
Asia
Credited for discovering the “New World”
Explored area of San Salvador, Cuba, Hispanola
(Caribbean Islands)
Believed his was in the Indies so he called the native
people “Indians”
Sailed for Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand
Fleet of Ships: Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria
First to find an all water route to Asia by sailing
around Africa and across the Indian Ocean to India
Opened trade routes from Portugal to Asia
Seeking an all water route to the Indies by sailing
northwest- explored eastern Canada
Reached Canada and East Coast down to Maryland
Found no riches, but discovered a new continent for
England
Opened a new route for English settlers and was part
of England’s rise to power in 16th and 17th century.
Greenland
Exploration/Discovery and Accomplishments (Impact on the
world)
 First European to explore North America
 Named the land Vinland (land of vines) in eastern
Canada
 Looking for wood for Viking settlements in Greenland
Bartholomeu Dias
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To find a trade route
to India
1487
Portugal
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Christopher Columbus
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Wanted to find a
faster route to Asia
(Glory) and the riches
of spices etc. (gold)
Sailed to the
Caribbean islands
(north of Florida)
Thought he was in the
Indies
Find a trade route to
Asia
1492
Spain
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Studied Marco Polo
Became a sailor at 15
years old.
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Vasco Da Gama
John Cabot
Italian and a skilled
navigator
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Explore unknown land
Believed route to Asia
was north not south
as Columbus traveled
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1498
1498
Portugal
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England
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Amerigo Vespucci
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Helped Columbus with
his voyages got ships
ready
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Juan Ponce de Leon
Went on 2nd trip with
Columbus
Military Commander
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Spanish Conquistador
Governor of Panama
Hernando Cortes
As the navigator of a
Spanish ship
1499
Spain
Sailed for Glory to find
new lands
1501
Portugal
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Searching for gold
1506
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Glory of finding the
fountain of Youth
(Puerto Rico north to
Florida)
1513
New Ocean Route
Search for gold
1513
Spain
Explored for the
adventure and to find
gold/silver
Wanted to conquer
Aztecs (take gold)
1519
Spain
First explored for Godconverted King to
Christianity
Next: Gold get riches
in Asia
1510-1522
Wealth
1530
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Spanish nobleman living
in Cuba heard about a
rich Mexican empire
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Ferdinand Magellan
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Francisco Pizzaro
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Spain
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Spain
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Spain
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Sailed many voyages to the New World South America
area
First to realize New World was not Asia but a separate
continent (Knew Columbus was wrong)
German cartographer created maps from his notes
(Vespucci’s written notes)
Sailed from Puerto Rico to Florida – Claimed
southwest area for Spain
Looking for Gold and the Fountain of Youth
Oldest Permanent settlement in North America at St.
Augustine in Florida (1565)
Reached Dominican Republic, Haiti, Florida: Claimed
them for Spain
Sailed to the Isthmus of Panama
First explorer to reach the Pacific Ocean
Named it El Mar del Sur (South Sea)
Was governor of Panama for several years
Conquered Aztec empire
Traveled from Cuba to Mexico
Claimed all of Mexico for Spain- WHAT IS PRESENT
DAY MEXICO CITY.
Stole gold, silver, other riches
Conquistador (Spanish Soldier) beginning of
conquering land and civilizations for the glory of their
country.
WIPED OUT AZTEC CIVILIZATION
His expedition first to circumnavigate the world
Rounded South America through a strait (eventually
named the strait of Magellan)
Named the Pacific Ocean (means peaceful ocean)
He was killed in Indonesia – his crew completed
circling of the globe (without him)
Conquered the Inca Empire
Claimed the Northwest of South America for
Spain/Peru
Stole gold and silver- making Spain richest and most
powerful country in Europe
Jacques Cartier
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Sailor and Navigator
Fisherman
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Francisco Vasquez de
Coronado
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Spanish
Nobleman/Conquistador
Henry Hudson
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English Sea Captain and
Skilled Navigator
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Samuel Champlain
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Mapmaker and
Navigator
Geographer for the King
Wanted to find the
northwest passage
Explore for gold
Seek more land and
gold for Spain
Searched for the 7
Cities of Gold
Search for the North
East passage (for
Holland)
Search for North West
Passage (for England)
Find and explore new
lands for France –
establish colonies
Establish Fur Trade
(money) Wanted to
establish a fur trade
to Quebec
1534
France
1540
Spain
1609
Holland
1610
England
1604
1608
France
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Looking for a Northwest Passage to Asia
Claimed all of eastern Canada for France
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Explored much of American southwest
Looking for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold
Discovered Grand Canyon and Colorado River
Considered a failure for never finding riches
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Hudson River was named for him (New York)
Hudson Bay and Hudson street in Canada
Dutch had claim to North America (New York)
England claimed Eastern Canada
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Explored the St. Lawrence River
Traveled from France west across the Atlantic to
Canada
Claimed land in Canada for France
First successful settlement in North America
Enhanced positive relations with the Native
Americans (made friends that helped them later on)
Discovered Lake Champlain
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7 Reasons for Exploration
1. Curiosity
2. Fame
3. Wealth
4. National Pride
5. Better Trade Routes
6. Foreign Goods
7. Religion