Voyages of Exploration: Years ’s

What was the Age of Exploration? A time period when Europeans began to explore the rest of the world. Improvements in mapmaking, shipbuilding, rigging, and navigation made this possible. Blue water sailing, not just coastal boats.

An Exciting Time! Columbus may be the best remembered explorer of the Americas – but he was not the first – or the last! Use the map provided to document early explorers during your own “voyage of discovery”!

The Explorers: Vikings

Bjarni Herjulfsson First European to see the Americas. Blown off course on his way to Greenland. Sighted land in 986 that was later determined to be the Americas. Did not stop to explore.

Leif Erikson Searched for land Herjulfsson reported seeing. Sailed to Americas in the Year Other Viking explorers may have traveled inland as far as present day Minnesota. (Hence the team name: Minnesota Vikings).

Use the map below to trace the routes of Herjulfsson and Erikson on your world map.

The Explorers: Portugal

Bartolomeu Dias Sailed around Cape of Good Hope at southern tip of Africa. Found route to Indian Ocean Trade can go from Europe to Asia by sea.

Vasco da Gama Landed in India in Important trade route from Europe to India and East Indies.

Ferdinand Magellan His crew made first round-the-world voyage from 1519 to Proved for certain that the world was round. Magellan was killed in the Phillippines, did not make it home.

The Explorers: Spain

Christopher Columbus Believed a shorter route to Asia could be found by sailing westward instead of around Africa. Found the Americas instead. Was an Italian.

Columbus’ First Voyage:

What was the Columbian Exchange? Massive exchange of plants, animals and diseases. These things moved between the New and Old Worlds. Started with Columbus. To the Americas: cows, horses, wheat, smallpox, plus much more. To Europe: potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, corn, plus much more.

Ponce De Leon Sailed to the Americas with Columbus on his second voyage. Explored Florida in Was looking for the Fountain of Youth.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa First European to cross the isthmus of Panama and reach the Pacific Ocean. Was searching for gold when he crossed the isthmus in 1513.

The Explorers: Italians

Amerigo Vespucci Mapped the coast of the Americas. Americas may have been named after him. Voyages from 1499 to 1504.

Giovanni da Verrazzano Explored for the king of France. Explored the east coast of North America in 1524

Your Voyage of Discovery has come to an end. Complete the following activities to show what you have learned. 1. Complete your map by adding a title and a key with the routes of each explorer clearly labeled. 2. Use the 4-column chart to organize the information from your map. Make sure you list the explorers in chronological order.