1. European Explorers/Conquistadors

2. PORTUGAL

3. Henry the Navigator-
Portuguese Prince. Established a school of Navigation in Portugal.
Sponsored expeditions to chart Atlantic coast to Africa. Wished to establish direct access to gold in Arab nations. (Middle East).

4. 1. Bartholomew Dias (1488)
Sailed around Cape of Good Hope and around the southern tip of Africa.
He turned his ship around after he sailed around the tip and did not continue.

5. 2. Vasco da Gama (1498)
Sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and eastwards all the way to India.
First to sail all the way across the Indian Ocean.

6. 3. Pedro Alvares Cabral (1500)
Intended to follow up da Gama’s voyage to India, his ship was blown off course and landed in Brazil.
Portugal was able to claim Brazil because of this voyage and as a result of the…
Treaty of Torsedillas- the Pope drew a line north to south in the New World, splitting it between Portugal and Spain. Spain received much of the Western Hemisphere, and Portugal received very little because much of the land was undiscovered, at this time.

7. Religious Motivations for Exploration
“God, Gold, Glory”- One of the motives for exploration was to spread Christianity.
Each nation used religion as a chance to prove they sailed on God’s authority (which would make them seem more powerful)
Roman Catholicism
French North America
Spanish Empire (Mexico through South America)
Portuguese Empire (Brazil)
Protestant Christianity
Church of England
Refugees from European Persecution (Pilgrims, Puritans)

8. 4. Amerigo Vespucci (1497)-
Italian Navigator, but sailed under Portugal’s flag, also. Explored the Coast of South America.
First to discover that Americas separate from Asia.
“Americas” named after him.

9. SPAIN

10. 5. Christopher Columbus (1492)
Sailed with 3 ships. The Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Wished to find East Indies.
Landed in San Salvador (Caribbean) instead. Typically remembered as man who discovered America.
Called people he met “Indians”. Made three more voyages (4 total) and died believing that he had achieved his goal of landing in the Indies.

11. 6. Ferdinand Magellan- (1519)
From Portugal, but sailed for Spain.
Thought there was a shorter route to Asia South of Brazil. Result: 1st Voyage around the World.
Also, named Pacific Ocean because the water was calm and peaceful.

12. 7. Hernan Cortes (1519)- Sailed from Cuba to Mexico.
Discovered and conquered Aztecs.

13. 8. Francisco Pizzaro (1530)
Sailed from Panama to Peru and conquered Incan Empire.

14. ENGLAND

15. 9. John Cabot (1497) Discovered Newfoundland and New England.
Gave England its first claim in North America.
His voyage was the beginning of England’s sphere of influence in North America.

16. FRANCE

17. 10. Jaques Cartier (1534) Made several voyages to North America
explored much territory in North America (Louisiana Territory)
Allowed France to have profitable fur and fishing trade, but France quickly lost influence in New World.

18. Assignment
Take the map you have been given and draw the routes that each European explorer took. Make sure you have a map key that specifies which explorer sailed for which country and, if you use colors or various types of lines, that you provide a map key.