European Explorers
SS4H2- The student will describe European exploration in North America. a. Describe the reasons for, obstacles to, and accomplishments of
the Spanish, French, and English explorations of John Cabot, Vasco Nunez Balboa, Juan Ponce de Leon, Christopher Columbus, Henry Hudson, and Jacques Cartier.
b. Describe examples of cooperation and conflict between Europeans and Native Americans
What started it all:Because of explorations to Asia (Marco Polo), Europeans wanted more Asian goods such as silks, spices, and perfumes.
• The land route to Asia required passage through the Middle East, and at the time, the Arabians would not let them pass. Instead, the Arabians sold Asian goods at high prices.
Click on the globe to view a map:
• Europeans decided to find their own route to eastern Asia (or “the Indies”), so they could purchase the goods for cheaper prices.
• So…
Europeans find another way…• Europeans believed
that sailing would be quicker than by land, and the ships would in turn carry more goods.
To Asia
The only known way: Around Africa! Portugal led the way with
Vasco Da Gama sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, the most southern tip of Africa.
How did they do it?• Not only were silks and
spices brought back from Asia, but technology was too. The compass was a tool that helped navigate through the seas. Out of sight from land, navigators had to make a calculated guess, which they called dead reckoning.
The Dead ReckoningSounds like something from this:
But… the dead reckoning was a strategy used to estimate the position of the ship in the middle of the ocean using:
The direction the ship was traveling
The travel timeThe speed
Check out this website for more info: (Navigation)http://www.nmm.ac.uk/TudorExploration/NMMFLASH/index.htm
Christopher ColumbusFeeling more confident and bold with the help navigational tools, Christopher Columbus believed he could reach Asia faster by sailing west instead of around Africa. He thought he would sail straight into the Indies.
One Problem… The $$$!• The Italian Christopher Columbus
went to the King of Portugal with his idea and was rejected.
• He then went next door to Spain. After a few attempts of trying to convince King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, The Spanish monarchs (mainly Queen Isabella) finally agreed to fund/sponsor Columbus’s trip out west.
• In 1492, Columbus set sail due West!
Do you know the names of the ships that Columbus used for his first voyage?
• The Nina• The Pinta • The Santa Maria
The Results:On October 12, 1492, after sailing 33 days, Christopher Columbus arrived in the “Indies”, but actually he was in the Bahamas. Since being sponsored by Spain, he claimed the island for the country and called it San Salvador. He truly believed that he found the western route to Asia/Indies, that he even called the native people there… Indians.
Land!
Click on the Map to enlarge:
European Reaction• After the discovery of the
“short cut” to Asia, others followed behind.
• It wasn’t until later that Europeans found out the land was new territory. After the fact was known, countries (Portugal, Spain, France, England, and others) started to send fleets out west to claim as much land as possible. Most wanted to find gold, others glory, and some, Christianity.
John Cabot• Like Spain,
England wanted to trade with the Indies. In 1497, England’s King Henry hired the Italian explorer, Giovanni Caboto, to find a quicker way.
Cabot Continued:• Instead of sailing southwest like
Columbus, Giovanni decided to sail northwest to find a passageway to Asia. Bad weather, food shortages, and conflicts with his crew forced Cabot to turn back. The second trip, he found new land and called it Newfoundland which he claimed for England. He returned to England as hero and was called by his English name, John Cabot. Click on the Map to
enlarge:
Vasco Nunez BalboaVasco Nunez de Balboa (1475-1519) was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who was the first European to see the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean (1513), crossing the Isthmus of Panama.
It wasn’t easy…
• Balboa was born in western Spain in 1475 and sailed for America in 1500. He began a plantation on the island of Hispaniola (Cuba) in the West Indies, but he soon fell into debt. After receiving money from Spain, he sailed to region known as Darién, in what is now Panama.
Balboa• Soon after settling, he set out to
conquer nearby territory. Balboa used brutal tactics to defeat the Native Americans living on neighboring lands. He heard from the natives that an ocean existed on the other side.
• He set out to cross the Isthmus of Panama—the narrow strip of land joining Central and South America. Balboa and his party cut their way through dense jungle and climbed across mountains. When they reached the top of the last range they saw before them a vast expanse of sea. The body of water they discovered was the Pacific Ocean. Balboa called it the South Sea.
Juan Ponce de Leon• A Spanish explorer of the New
World, Juan Ponce de León explored the island of Puerto Rico and went on to discover the land that is now Florida.
• He is also famousfor his searchfor the mythicalFountain of Youth.
The Fountain of Youth• Local Native Americans told stories
of a magical fountain that gave powers of everlasting life to anyone who drank its water.
• Ponce de Leon wanted to find this fountain, and in turn found Florida (Flower in Spanish).
• Conflict between the natives and himself ultimately caused his demise... He died from the result of a brutal attack in Florida.
Jacques CartierIn 1534, the King of France, François I, sent Cartier to "discover certain islands and lands where it is said there is a large amount of gold and other riches to be found.“
Sailing near John Cabot’s mapped routes, Jacques Cartier landed in present day Canada.
Cartier’s RoutesCartier explored the St. Lawrence River and followed it until rapids laid in the way. Along the exploration, he traded with the Native Americans and established relationships with them. The harsh winters forced him to go back to France, where in turn, Cartier returned 2 more times. The friendship between the Natives dissolved once he kidnapped the chief and other Native Americans.
Click on the Map to enlarge:
Quest for the Northwest PassageBy this time, Europeans knew they
found a new continent, but they were determined to find a faster
way to Asia. Spanish and Portuguese explorers found out that sailing south led to another continent (South America) and
claimed the land and routes. Other countries still thought there was a
shortcut, a Northwest Passage…
Going North…• Henry Hudson was
an English explorer hired by the Dutch East India Company.
• He wanted to find the Northwest Passage, sailing far North into the Arctic to find a waterway to Asia.
Problems…• The combination of the extreme cold
and other excruciating conditions were so horrible that the crew threatened mutiny unless Hudson agreed to sail southward.
• Sailing south, Hudson and his crew found the Hudson River (New York) by chance and claimed it for Holland.
Hudson• Click on the map for
video clip:
• Henry Hudson continued to find the Northwest Passage. Hudson managed to make his crew miserable. In 1611, the crew put him and his son on a small boat near Newfoundland and cast them off…
They were never seen again.
Explorer Wrap-up:• Why did Explorers go West?
• To find a shortcut to Asia• Gold and riches• To claim land• To spread Christianity
• What obstacles did Explorers endure?• Dangerous uncharted waters• Lack of food and water• Poor Maps and navigational tools• Discouraged crew members• Weather
