Early European Explorers
How did accomplishments of the explorers impact the new world?
There were many factors that motivated Europeans to explore. These factors included competition between countries, expansion of international trade, and technological improvements in shipbuilding and navigation. The accomplishments of certain explorers greatly influenced the lands claimed in the New World by European countries including Spain, France and England.
There were many factors that motivated Europeans to explore. These factors included competition between countries, expansion of international trade, and technological improvements in shipbuilding and navigation. The accomplishments of certain explorers greatly influenced the lands claimed in the New World by European countries including Spain, France and England.
Vikings
Leif Eriksson was Viking from Greenland. He was the first explorer to sail the Northern Atlantic Ocean and settle in North America. Even though he wanted to share his discovery, the Vikings were very combative and often did not get along with other European countries. This didn’t allow them to share their discoveries, so North America was still unknown to most Europeans. Leif Eriksson did not claim land for Greenland and did not get credit as the first person to settle in North America.
Leif Eriksson was Viking from Greenland. He was the first explorer to sail the Northern Atlantic Ocean and settle in North America. Even though he wanted to share his discovery, the Vikings were very combative and often did not get along with other European countries. This didn’t allow them to share their discoveries, so North America was still unknown to most Europeans. Leif Eriksson did not claim land for Greenland and did not get credit as the first person to settle in North America.
Spanish Explorers
Christopher Columbus was an explorer for Spain. He sailed west looking for a new and faster route to the Spice Islands (near Indonesia). Columbus sailed west because Portugal had a monopoly on the Eastern route around Africa. Columbus believed the world was small enough that he could reach the Far East (in southeast Asia) by sailing west. He never met his goal to bring riches back from the Far East because he never made it there. Instead he discovered the lands of San Salvador in the West Indies (islands in the Caribbean Sea) and wealth along with it. This discovery allowed the Spanish to begin to settle in North and South America.
Christopher Columbus was an explorer for Spain. He sailed west looking for a new and faster route to the Spice Islands (near Indonesia). Columbus sailed west because Portugal had a monopoly on the Eastern route around Africa. Columbus believed the world was small enough that he could reach the Far East (in southeast Asia) by sailing west. He never met his goal to bring riches back from the Far East because he never made it there. Instead he discovered the lands of San Salvador in the West Indies (islands in the Caribbean Sea) and wealth along with it. This discovery allowed the Spanish to begin to settle in North and South America.
Ferdinand Magellan was and explorer for Spain. He was the first explorer to sail around the world. Even though he died before his journey was complete, he claimed more land for Spain in the New World. Magellan and his crew proved that sailing around the world could be achieved, but at a great cost.
Hernando de Soto was and explorer for Spain. He was a Spanish Conquistador who explored throughout the southeastern United States and claimed land for Spain. Spanish explorers could then claim modern day Florida and southwestern United States as new lands for Spain.
English Explorers
John Cabot was an explorer for England. He sailed looking for faster route to the Far East known as the Northwest Passage. They believed the Northwest Passage would link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The belief that this route existed continued to motivate explorers to explore as far north as the Arctic Ocean, but all had no success in finding it (because it didn’t exist.) John Cabot did however claim the lands he discovered for England in the New World.
John Cabot was an explorer for England. He sailed looking for faster route to the Far East known as the Northwest Passage. They believed the Northwest Passage would link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The belief that this route existed continued to motivate explorers to explore as far north as the Arctic Ocean, but all had no success in finding it (because it didn’t exist.) John Cabot did however claim the lands he discovered for England in the New World.
Henry Hudson was an explorer for England AND the Netherlands. While looking for the Northwest Passage he claimed and mapped lands in modern day New York for the Dutch, and lands in Canada for the English. Both the Hudson River and Bay in New York are named for him. The English ended up claiming the coast of North America based on Hudson’s exploration. They called the land Virginia and New England. The Dutch claimed the area around the Hudson River. They established New Netherlands and New Amsterdam there. Later, the Dutch ceded their land in present-day New York to the English. This led to the 13 original colonies.
French Explorers
Robert LaSalle was an explorer for France. He explored the Mississippi River to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico and named the area Louisiana. The French also explored St. Lawrence River and the entire Mississippi River to New Orleans. They claimed the land surrounding these rivers for France.
Robert LaSalle was an explorer for France. He explored the Mississippi River to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico and named the area Louisiana. The French also explored St. Lawrence River and the entire Mississippi River to New Orleans. They claimed the land surrounding these rivers for France.
Documents
4-1.4_early_explorers_iet.pdf |
4-1.4_early_explorers_iet.docx |
Sources
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Christian-krohg-leiv-eriksson.jpg
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Portrait_of_a_Man%2C_Said_to_be_Christopher_Columbus.jpg/846px-Portrait_of_a_Man%2C_Said_to_be_Christopher_Columbus.jpg
Image 3: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Magellan_Elcano_Circumnavigation-fr.svg
Image 4: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/DeSoto_Map_HRoe_2008.jpg/608px-DeSoto_Map_HRoe_2008.jpg
Image 5: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Northwest_passage.jpg/1024px-Northwest_passage.jpg
Image 6: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Henry_Hudson_Map_26.png/279px-Henry_Hudson_Map_26.png
Image 7: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/La_salle_expedition.jpg/568px-La_salle_expedition.jpg
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Christian-krohg-leiv-eriksson.jpg
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Portrait_of_a_Man%2C_Said_to_be_Christopher_Columbus.jpg/846px-Portrait_of_a_Man%2C_Said_to_be_Christopher_Columbus.jpg
Image 3: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Magellan_Elcano_Circumnavigation-fr.svg
Image 4: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/DeSoto_Map_HRoe_2008.jpg/608px-DeSoto_Map_HRoe_2008.jpg
Image 5: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Northwest_passage.jpg/1024px-Northwest_passage.jpg
Image 6: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Henry_Hudson_Map_26.png/279px-Henry_Hudson_Map_26.png
Image 7: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/La_salle_expedition.jpg/568px-La_salle_expedition.jpg