Explorers Set Sail Unit 2, Lesson 2 4-1.4, 4-2.1

The Vikings Vikings sailed for adventure, riches, and to find new lands in which to trade. Vikings were sailors who lived in northern Europe, Greenland, and Iceland.

Eric the Red- sailed west for the island of Iceland Eric the Red- sailed west for the island of Iceland. He was thrown out of Iceland and sailed west again to Greenland. Despite the name, it was very cold. He called it Greenland to encourage Icelanders to come. Eric’s son, Leif Eriksson- was interested in land still farther west of Greenland. He was in the search for trees and lumber for building boats and homes. Eriksson sailed west and stopped at Newfoundland (an island in North America). His men found grapes growing there and named it Vinland or “Land of Wine.”

Draw and label the routes of the Viking Explorers

The Portuguese Sailors from Portugal wanted a water route to Asia for trade. Bartolomeu Dias was the first explorer to set sail around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. The Cape had very many violent storms. Dias called it the “Cape of Storms.”

Less than ten years later, Vasco da Gama was the first to sail from Portugal to India and back. Now, Portugal could trade with Asia.

Draw and label the routes of the Portuguese Explorers

The Spanish Christopher Columbus- thought he could find Asia by sailing west. In 1492, Spain funded Columbus to sail west with his crew. 1492, Columbus left Spain with three ships- the Nina, the Pinta, and Santa Maria. Columbus landed on an island off the coast of North America.

4. In called the land “West Indies” because he thought he was in India and the people there “Indians”. 5. Columbus made 3 more expeditions to the Americas. 6. On the 2nd trip, Spain had a new goal. The goal was to start a colony. A colony is a settlement far from the country that rules it. Before long, thousands of European settlers were living in the colonies.

7. This had caused the Columbian Exchange 7. This had caused the Columbian Exchange. This was a movement of people, animals, plants, diseases, and ways of life between the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. 8. Europeans brought horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs with them to the west. In the east, people enjoyed new foods from the Americas such as corn, potatoes, tomatoes, cocoa, and beans. 9. This helped the people of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. 10. However, not all the effects were positive. Without knowing it, Europeans brought disease germs to the Americas. Many Native Americas died because they had no defense against small pox and measles.

11. Ferdinand Magellan- wanted to sail west to find a water route to Asia. 12. He sailed west around South America and across the Pacific Ocean. He stopped at the islands in the Pacific Ocean. 13. On Mactan Island, Magellan died in an attack. Of 240 men and five ships at the start of the journey, only one ship and 18 survivors returned to Spain. 14. Magellan is remembered as the first to sail around the world.

Hernando de Soto- wanted to find gold in North America Hernando de Soto- wanted to find gold in North America. He sailed to the west coast of Florida, then went north on land. He looked for gold for 3 years and did not find any. He was the first European to see the Mississippi River.

Draw and label the routes of the Spanish Explorers

The Dutch Henry Hudson- wanted to find a northwest water route to Asia. In 1609, Hudson explored the Nova Scotia coast and then headed south. He discovered the Hudson River which he claimed for the Dutch, and it was later named for him. He sailed about 150 miles up the Hudson and saw rich land and Native Americans.

Henry Hudson’s route

Draw and label the route of the Dutch Explorer

The English England also wanted to find a northwest water route to Asia. John Cabot sailed west and landed on Newfoundland. He claimed this island for England.

Draw and label the route of the English Explorer

The French Robert La Salle- sailed west. He made money trading furs in North America. He claimed land along the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes in North America for France. He believed he could find the northwest route to Asia by sailing across North America but did not find it. He was the first European to sail the length of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. He claimed the land along the Mississippi River for France and named it Louisiana.

Draw and label the route of the French Explorer