Ms. Chelsea
European Exploration of
Americas

What was happening in Europe at the
time?
 Reformation
 Renaissance
Effects of the Renaissance

Increased appreciation for learning =
interested in unknown parts of the world

Increased knowledge = invention of new
tools for sea voyages

Printing press = maps and sea routes
more available
Why do we explore now?
Why did the Europeans wants to
explore then?

Spread Christianity, convert Natives

Expand their empires

Riches
Navigation and Currents
Two strong currents in the
Atlantic Ocean:
• North Atlantic Current
• South Atlantic Current
Prevented successful ocean
travel in 1400s
Solving the mystery of the
currents opened two new
routes:
• south along Africa’s coast
• west into the Atlantic
(toward the Americas)
You will research the following
explorers:
Bartolomeu Dias
 Vasco da Gama
 Christopher Columbus
 Amerigo Vespucci
 Vasco Nunez de Balboa
 Ferdinand Magellan
 Hernando Cortes
 Francisco Pizarro

The Chart:
Explorers Name
 Supporting Country
 Location/Route explored
 Purpose of the exploration

Open Note Quiz
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What country was Bartolomeu Dias from?
Dias and Da Gama both traveled to parts of Africa.
Explain the difference between their routes.
Columbus wanted to reach which country?
Name the two reasons Columbus wanted make the trip.
Columbus was from the country _____, but he was
helped by the country _____.
How does Amerigo Vespucci’s name relate to where he
traveled?
Where did Balboa travel?
Where did Magellan travel?
Where did Pizzaro travel? With what civilization did he
interact?
Where did Cortes travel? With what civilization id he
interact?
Historical Sources vs. Media?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/i
mages-pocahontas.html

Does media and entertainment skew
historical accounts?

Can we enjoy these movies, yet be
critical thinkers?
Homework

Research information about Martin
Luther.
 You need to bring printed information OR
 Take notes and bring them to class

Worth 5 Class Work points
Why were so many Europeans trying to find a
new way to Asia?

Wanted to reach Asia’s “Silk Road”
 Trading route between China and
Mediterranean Sea
○ Silk
○ Spices
○ Gold
○ In the name of religion

Spreading of different cultures and
religions
 Buddhism
Silk Route
Why couldn’t Europeans just use
the Silk Road?
What do you notice about the
physical features?

Silk Road = Black Death???
Map Assignment
Show exploration routes of the following:
 Dias
 Columbus
 Vespucci
 Balboa
 Magellan
 Cortes
 Pizarro
 Silk Route
 Line of Demarcation/Treaty of Tordesillas
(tomorrow)

Make a map key with different color. Use ruler.
Portugal
Prince Henry the Navigator
 Did not go on the expeditions himself
○ Funded expeditions $$$
 Started Navigation School to train
others in:
○ Navigation
○ Map making
 Because of Prince Henry, explorers
were able to travel to West Coast of
Africa
 Why? Spread Christianity, defeat
Muslims, find new trade routes
Portugal
Bartolomeu Dias

Sent by Portugal to
explore coast of Africa,
find Indian Ocean

Sailed to south tip of
Africa
 Cape of Good Hope
Portugal
Vasco da Gama
 Found a sea route around Africa to India
 Opened up trade with Asia without dealing
with Muslim traders
Line of Demarcation
• In 1493, Pope Alexander VI
drew an imaginary line around
the world to decide who would
control new lands
• Portugal claimed all nonChristian lands to the east
(right) of the line
•Spain claimed all non-Christian
lands to the west (left) of the
line
What do you notice about this
line?
Treaty of Tordesillas
•Portugal’s King John
II was unhappy with
the first line
•This treaty in 1494
changed the line to
800 miles farther west
What South American countries do you
see east of the new line?
Christopher Columbus

Italian sailor and navigator
 Sailed for Spain

Thought he knew a faster way to Asia by
sailing west

He landed in Caribbean islands, but
believed it was India or Asia
 San Salvador, Cuba, Hispaniola,