Exploration of America

Christopher Columbus Purpose: Sail West to reach Asia Sailed for Spain (King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella paid for his voyage. They wanted him to find riches…gold, silver, spices, cotton) Made 3 voyages with several ships Obstacles: no maps and frightened crew, going into the unknown Accomplishments: Landing in the Bahamas and settled in Central and South America The Columbian Exchange started when Columbus arrived in Caribbean Islands Columbian Exchange started the movement of animals, plants, food and people between Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Ferdinand Magellan Searched for passage to Pacific Ocean Traveled around South America to get back to Spain. Died in Philippines His crew was the lst to circumnavigate the world Columbus said that it could be done, but never made it. Magellan proved you could travel around the globe.

John Cabot An Italian Explorer Sailed for England Obstacle: no map Purpose: Find a new route to Asia. He reached the coast of Canada which he thought was Asia Accomplishments: Landed in Eastern coast of Canada and discovering a rich fishing area. Europeans then went there to set up fishing companies.

Juan Ponce de Leon Sailed for Spain Obstacle: Fighting with Native Americans over land and made them work for them Purpose: Looking for “fountain of youth” and gold Accomplishments: First European to reach Florida Claimed Florida for Spain

Vasco Nunez Balboa Sailed for Spain Purpose: Looking for a new route to Asia Obstacle: Fought with Native Americans Accomplishments: Sailed to present day Panama in Central America. He crossed the mountains and jungles of Panama to reach and discover the Pacific Ocean

Henry Hudson Sailed for England (Netherlands) Purpose: Discover the Northwest Passage to Asia (Explorers believed it was a shortcut) Obstacles: Cold Climate (his crew were not prepared for the cold weather…they wanted to leave and he didn’t….they mutinied against him and set him, his son, and 7 crew adrift.) Accomplishments: Sailed up the Hudson River to present day New York and claimed it for England and he found the bay known now as the Hudson Bay.

Jacques Cartier Sailed for France Purpose: find a water passage to Asia. Obstacles: Sailors caught diseases and cold climate Accomplishments: Sailed over 1,000 miles along the St. Lawrence River in Canada and set up the French fur trading post

Navigation Tools Used During Voyages Compass- is a navigational instrument for determining direction Astrolabe-is a historical astronomical instrument. It located the position of the sun, moon, planets, and stars; determining local time

Paths of European Explorers

Contact Between Explorers and Native Americans BEFORE AFTER Simple tools (bones, shells) Hunters, farmers Canoes and dogs for transportation No alcohol Clothing: tree bark, fur Lived in clans Growing communities Metal tools, guns Trade with Europeans Horses for transportation Alcohol exposure Cotton introduced Germs, smallpox, some Native American tribes became extinct because of diseases

Conflict and Cooperation Fought in battles over land Endured harsh treatment and diseases Explorers tricked Native Americans into “sharing” land….they really signed a compact saying they would give it up Native Americans were forced to comply with new ways or move away to a new area Cooperation Trading of goods (new tools, clothing & fur)