American History Mr. Lauta

OBJECTIVE Although the English have been the major influence on United States history, they are only part of the story. Beginning with Native Americans and continuing through time, people from many cultures came to the Americas.

IMPACT OF EXPLORATION ON U.S. TODAY The Americas today consist of people from cultures around the world. Native Americans, Spanish, Africans, and others. All have played key roles in shaping the culture we now call American.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 1] To find a sea route to the spices of Asia In the 1400s, there were 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.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 1] To find a sea route to the spices of Asia spices did not grow in Europe. Unfortunately, these spices did not grow in Europe. They were found only in China, Japan, and India. Spices had to be brought across thousands of miles 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.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 1] To find a sea route to the spices of Asia bring the spices by ship sea voyage was also dangerous spices were very expensive 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.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 1] To find a sea route to the spices of Asia a land route went through the Turkish Empire However, a land route to the Indies went through the Turkish Empire and were not just going to let Europeans pass without paying a price.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 1] To find a sea route to the spices of Asia another way to the Indies become very wealthy. So Europeans tried to find another way to the Indies. Whoever found this route would become very wealthy.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 2] To find gold, silver, and precious stones Europeanfought many wars wars were very expensive European rulers fought many wars. [against each other and against the Turkish Empire]. These wars were very expensive, so they needed to find gold, silver, and precious stones to pay for them.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 2] To find gold, silver, and precious stones Europeans believed that Asia was loaded with gold, silver, and precious stones Europeans believed that Asia was loaded with gold, silver, and precious stones, so they decided to find it and bring it back.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 3] To expand their knowledge of the world Europeans did not know much about the world In the late 1400s, Europeans did not know much about the world. Most of had never been outside of Europe. The European map of the world included only Europe, Asia, and the top of Africa.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 3] To expand their knowledge of the world only one ocean, the Ocean Sea no idea how large the world was They thought there was only one ocean, the Ocean Sea. 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.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 4] To control a larger empire Some European rulers wanted to claim as much land as they could take all of the natural resources use the people as slaves 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.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 5] To expand Christianity convert everyone to Christianity In the late 1400s, there was only one religion in Europe, Christianity. The European rulers were very religious. They wanted to convert everyone to Christianity.

Why did Europeans begin to explore lands beyond their borders? 6] To find animal furs animal furs, especially beaver hats, were very valuable in Europe Eventually, the French found that animal furs, especially beaver hats, were very valuable in Europe.

People have always explored. From the dawn of time through the new millennium, we have continued to discover what has previously been unknown. Thousands of years ago, the Native Americans came from Asia across the land bridge to a new world. They spent centuries exploring this new land and building new civilizations and empires. In the late 1400s, Europeans "discovered" this "New World" by accident while they were trying to find a shorter route to the Indies.