Early European Explorers Why explore new lands Which

Early European Explorers • Why explore new lands? • Which countries were involved in exploration? • How did the explorers navigate to their destinations?

Mercantilism • The main reason Europe wanted to explore new territories in the west was mercantilism. • Mercantilism is a simple economic activity. • It involves the purchase of certain goods in a region where those goods are common, moving those goods to another region where they aren't common, and then selling them at a profit.

The Northwest Passage • Another main reason for exploration was the yearning to find the Northwest Passage, an easier travel route to Asia for quicker and easier trade.

Portugal African coastline • Of all European countries, Portugal took the most ambitious voyages. • A voyage is a journey taken to a far away land. • Because of their voyages, Europe discovered the entire coastline of Africa, and set up settlements south of the Sahara desert.

Spain • Christopher Columbus first encouraged Spain to fund expeditions/voyages to the undiscovered Americas. • Columbus’ discovery of the Americas in 1492 soon led a frenzy of European countries sending explorers to the west.

Diaz and da Gama • In search of gold, • Vasco de Gama also Bartolomeo Diaz was explored for Portugal. the first person to sail • He navigated around the southern tip The Cape of Good of Africa. Hope. • He named the • In 1498, he was the southern most tip of first person to sail Africa The Cape of directly from Europe Good Hope. to India.

Push to the West

England • John Cabot was an explorer that sailed for England in 1500. • He was sent to explore the coast of presentday New England. • He had previously been turned down by Spain and Portugal.

France • France was also a major contributor during the years of exploration. • Jacques Cartier, Samuel De Champlain, and Robert De La. Salle were all famous explorers financed by the French. • France started numerous settlements in Canada including Montreal and Quebec.

Financing Exploration • Some explorers were refused financing (money for their voyages) from the countries in which they were born. • These explorers turned to the Kings of different countries for financial supports • The Dutch East India company was started in the 17 th century. • They were a company that financed exploration in hopes that a trade route to the West Indies would be discovered, and would result in an abundance of wealth.