Knowledge Connections

Definition

Picture

TermVocabulary Empire Colony

Essential Question

Why did Europeans start exploring unknown oceans and seas?

When did ocean exploration begin?

The Age of Exploration began in the late 1400s

Trade lured Europeans into the unknown oceans and seas

Why not travel by land?

Europeans wanted to trade with Asian countries, like China

However, they had to find a way to get around the Ottoman and Italian merchants who controlled the trade routes

Answer = Finding an all water route to Asia

Who was Prince Henry?

PRINCE HENRY THE NAVIGATOR

Never made an ocean voyage of his own

Sent sailors to map out the west coast of Africa

Started the Portuguese EMPIRE

Son of Portugal’s King

Group of territories under the control of

one government

Who was Bartholomeu Dias?

BARTHOLOMEU DIAS

Explored the southern tip of Africa

Portuguese Explorer

Who was Vasco da Gama?

VASCO DA GAMA

Rounded the southern tip of Africa (the Cape of Good Hope)

Made it all the way to India

Found an all water route to Asia

Portuguese Explorer

Who was Christopher Columbus?

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUSExplorer

Italian – but sailed for Spain

Wanted to find an all water route to Asia by sailing West

Made a total of four voyages

Never realized he had found a new continent

Who was Ferdinand Magellan?

FERDINAND MAGELLANExplorer

Portuguese – but sailed for Spain

Sailed around South America

First to CIRCUMNAVIGATE the globe

Sail around the Earth

Who were the conquistadors?

CONQUISTADORSSpanish conquerors

HERNANDO CORTESConquered the Aztec Empire

FRANCISCO PIZARROConquered the Incan Empire

Used force to take over islands in the Caribbean, as well as places in Central America, South America, and

southwestern North America

What nations were competing for empires?

England

France

Spain

The Netherlands

All sent out explorers in hopes of building an empire

for their nation

Essential Question

Why did Europeans start exploring unknown oceans and seas?

Europeans began exploring unknown oceans and seas