Chapter 3: Explorers Lessons 1-5

The World in the 1400s Lesson 1

The Americas Before Columbus, Native Americans had established powerful empires. Used force to take over peoples land. Ruled over 12 million people Kept records of groups by using colored knotted strings called quipus Inca Empire

The Americas North of the Incas was a tribe called the Mexicas later known as the Aztecs. *Took control of much of southern Mexico *Ruled a huge empire of over 200,000 square miles *Over 5 million people *Capital City: Tenochtitlan is where Mexico city stands now. *Recorded information using pictures of objects and symbols to represent words. Aztec Empire https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/azteccivilization/preview.weml

Europe Had been divided into many small areas: Portugal, Spain, France and England. Ruled by monarchs Known as the Renaissance (Rebirth)

Europe Johannes Gutenberg *1450 invented a new way to print books. *Two of the most important books was the Bible and The Travels of Marco Polo

Europe *Marco Polo and his family explored Asia *They liked everything they saw- especially the compass and gunpowder. *Held paper money for the first time in China *The Polo’s interest in the goods from China convinced them that they would need to trade with China. *Land routes from Europe to Asia were difficult.

Asia *Zheng He made at least 7 voyages 1405- 1433 *Sailed in “Junks”- Chinese wooden boats. *After Yong Le died- new Chinese rulers tried to keep China away from other civilizations. *All of Zheng He’s records of his voyages had to be destroyed. *Zheng He is pronounced “Jhung Hu”

Africa *Ghana Empire became a great empire in Africa. *Grew from a small town to a grand walled city. *Timbuktu was one of the cities near Ghana that began trading. *The town of Mali began growing market cities.

Africa *Songhay Empire began to control market cities. *One important ruler was Sunni Ali. *Sunni Ali stretched the empire more than 1,000 miles during his rule. He also encouraged more trade.

Africa *Kingdom of Benin is now what is located South of Nigeria. *Benin was an artistic center where sculptors carved ivory and worked with brass and bronze.

Africa *Swahili people lived in several city-states. *Grew into trading centers. *The trade centered around gold and ivory. *Exchanged goods with China, India and Southwest Asia.

Background to European Exploration Lesson 2

An End to East-West Trade *The Silk Road or Route was used as overland trade routes between China and Italy *Traders only went half way and usually met in the middle. *Some Asian goods that were traded were spices, gold, jewels, silks and perfumes.

An End to East-West Trade *Europeans were willing to pay high prices for Asian goods. *Asian trade made a huge profit, because it would not cost them much to make the items. *In 1453, the Turks, from the Ottoman Empire captured the trading city of Constantinople. *Trade routes were closed and now Europeans had no way to get goods from Asia.

Portugal Leads the Way *King John put his son, Prince Henry in charge of finding a water route to Asia. *Henry set up a school for sailors to train in navigation. *Henry brought sailors, shipbuilders and cartographers to plan the search. *Believed that the most direct route Asia would be to go south around Africa and then sail east across the Indian Ocean.

Portugal Leads the Way *On the western coast of Africa, Portuguese found: nuts, fruits and gold. *They also made money by buying slaves and selling them in Europe. *Portuguese traders were buying 800 slaves per year.

Dias and Da Gama *Bartolomeu Dias was ordered to set sail to the southern tip of Africa. *King John II wanted to see if the ships could reach Asia. *Other journeys had failed in the past because of the rough ocean. *Dias was able to sail around to the eastern tip of Africa. He sighted the “Cape of Good Hope”

Dias and Da Gama *Vasco Da Gama reached India 10 years later. *Brought back perfumes, silks, spices and other goods. *Many of Da Gama’s ship crew members died on the voyage. *He was given the title: “Admiral of the Sea” *The voyage opened the “Cape Route to India” *This led to the regular sailing of ships between Asia and Europe.

Voyage Map

Europeans Explore the World Lesson 3

Christopher Columbus *Christopher Columbus worked on a plan to reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean. *Spain’s Monarchs- King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella allowed Columbus to go on his expedition once Spain was under one religion- Catholicism. *Columbus stated he would spread the religion to Asia. *Set sail on August 3, 1492 *Columbus asked the King of Portugal- turned him down. *Three years later he asked Spain’s Monarchs: King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Wanted Spain to be united religiously first (Catholic)

Christopher Columbus *Columbus anchored off an island and named it “San Salvador”. He claimed it for Spain. *He believed he had reached Asia- which was actually the Indies. *The islands Columbus landed on are better known as the “Caribbean Islands”. *His arrival is now remembered by many Americas known as “Columbus Day” *Three ships sailed during the voyage: The Nina, The Pinta and the Santa Maria

Christopher Columbus Voyages

Vasco Nunez de Balboa *He crossed the Isthmus of Panama in 1513 *He finds the Pacific Ocean.

Ferdinand Magellan *Portuguese Explorer *He sailed to what is now Brazil. *He sails through what is NOW called “The strait of Magellan”. *He names the ocean the “Pacific” because it looks peaceful, compared to the Atlantic. *Magellan dies in battle on his ship in 1521.

Spain Vs. Portugal *Wanted the same land. *Their monarchs wanted the pope to decide. *The pope draws up a demarcation- which divides the world into two hemispheres. *Portugal gets all land east of the line. Spain gets all land west of the line (North America). *Signed a treaty in 1494- moved the demarcation line further west so Pedro Cabral could explore and claim Brazil.

Spain Vs. Portugal

Spanish Conquerors Lesson 4

Juan Ponce de Leon *He sailed with Chris Columbus *He helped take over Puerto Rico from Native Americans *He wants to travel to Bimini to find the “Fountain of Youth” *He ends up in North America, which is now known as Florida.

Juan Ponce de Leon He claims the land for Spain. He is the first explorer to actually set foot on the United States.

Spain vs. Aztecs The fight began in 1519 Cortes lands in Mexico looking for Aztecs Bring army 650 soldiers. Cortes returns and steals the treasure from the Aztecs On the ruins of Aztec city they build Mexico City.

Panfilo de Narvaez: Wants to conquer all the lands along Gulf of Mexico. Some of his landing party is “lost at sea” The rest eventually build rafts to get to the Gulf. Many die because of storms. Those that are left die of starvation and poor health.

Golden Cities From the Narvaez expedition – 4 people survived Met Native Americans that told them about the seven cities in rich gold, silver and jewels. The explorers go to find the “Seven Cities”. – some die, one comes back and says he saw it. Francisco Vasquez Coronado- searches for the seven cities and never finds it. The area that Coronado explored is now known as the Southwestern United States ( still owned by Spain )

Explorers- The Northwest Passage Lesson 5

Verrazano Leads the Way French King Francis wants to find a Northwest Passage through North America. Giovanni Verrazano is sent to find a northwest passage. Giovanni sails from Europe to North Carolina, then heads north towards New York and lands in what is now called the New York Bay.

Verrazano Leads the Way When he gets there he is welcomed by Native Americans. Giovanni takes two more expeditions to find a water route to Asia.

Cartier Moves Inland Jacques Cartier tries to find the northwest passage for France. Make 3 voyages and claims land in North America.

Cartier Moves Inland Cartier and Iroquois became friendly. Cartier received corn (gift). Cartier becomes first European to reach inland Canada. Cartier could not search for water route because of the rapids.

The Voyage of Henry Hudson He also explored the Northwest Passage Did not find it. He plans to go to the Arctic and his crew rebels gang up on him. They end up in Maine and meet Native Americans.

The Voyage of Henry Hudson Ends up in New York at what is now the “Hudson Bay” named after Henry Hudson. Hudson’s crew put him and family on a small boat – left to die.