Age of Exploration

Reasons for European Exploration Europeans wanted an easier trade routes to the Far East to China and India. They were looking for the so-called Northwest Passage, an all-water route to Asia through the North American continent.

Reasons for European Exploration Wanted spices from East Asia Europeans want to get spices directly with no “middleman” After rumors of a New World with gold spread, France, Spain, and England led to more exploration in the Americas God, Gold, Glory

“A Whole New World” Columbus discovered San Salvador Island (part of today’s Bahamas) in 1492. Columbus later explored the coasts of Central and South America and other Caribbean islands.

I hereby name thee…. Amerigo Vespucci sailed along the South American coast in 1499. He was a mapmaker and named the new land “America.”

Hernando de Soto

De Soto’s Travels in Georgia In 1540, De Soto entered southern Georgia (Albany) Moved across the state looking for GOLD De Soto’s weapons, plated armor, and horses overwhelmed the Native Americans. Thousands of American Indians in Georgia died, many from diseases brought by the Spanish.

Let’s watch more about DeSoto and the Native Americans Remember to answer the video questions

Video Questions How did DeSoto defeat the Native Americans with only 600 men? Better weapons: War dogs and horses How do we know what happened during DeSoto’ s expedition? Journals What was DeSoto looking for and did he find it? Gold and No!

Other European Explorers in GA De Soto was followed by many other European explorers, most of them from Spain, France, and England. These nations established settlements in Georgia and competed with each other and with the Native American tribes for control of the land.

Early Spanish Missions 1566, Spain established missions on Georgia’s Cumberland Island and St. Catherine’s Island, called Santa Catalina. The Spanish missionaries called the region Guale (pronounced “Wallie”) after the Guale Indians. Catholic priest wanted to convert Native Americans to Christianity.

New World Competition European resentment grew because of Spanish riches and power in the New World Spain fought to hold onto its gains, the English and the French fought to gain a share of the treasures.

Spain v. England English sea captains captured Spanish treasure ships. They also attacked and burned Spanish settlements in the New World. Spanish wanted invade England, using a huge fleet of ships that the Spanish called the “Invincible Armada.”

The loss that changed history…. Spanish lost English had superior seamen and faster ships , destroyed or ran off much of the Armada England gained undisputed control of the seas and was ready to pursue its interest in the New World