EARLY EXPLORERS OF THE AMERICAS Who From Where

EARLY EXPLORERS OF THE AMERICAS • Who? • From Where? • Why?

Christopher Columbus, 1492 • Sponsoring nation = SPAIN • Area Explored == West Indies & Caribbean • Motivation == Find trade route to Asia • Looking for India

Obstacles & Accomplishments • Crew feared the earth was flat • Discovered the New World • Murdered thousands of Native Americans • Started trade between Americas & Europe

Is Columbus a hero?

Hernando CORTES, 1519 • Sponsoring nation == SPAIN • Area Explored == Mexico • Motivation == Gold & Power

Obstacles & Accomplishments • Conquered the Aztec Empire • Claimed Mexico for Spain >> called New Spain • Wanted Gold & Silver • Wanted to convert Aztecs to Christianity

More Obstacles & Accomplishments • Aztecs had never seen white people before • Thought Cortes was a God & soldiers were dead ancestors

Destruction of the Aztec Empire

Ferdinand Magellan, 1522 • Sponsoring Country == Spain • Area Explored == Sailed around the World • Motivation == Find trade routes to Asia • $$$$$$$

Obstacles & Accomplishments • Ran out of food • Had to eat shoes, rats, & sawdust • Crew mutinied • Ships sank & most crew members died • Magellan killed in battle in the Philippines

More Obstacles & Accomplishments • Became first people to sail around the world

Jacques Cartier, 1534 • Sponsoring Country == France • Areas Explored == St. Lawrence River & Quebec • Motivation == find trade route to Asia

Obstacles & Accomplishments • Crew suffered from disease • Experienced bad weather • Found fertile lands & furs • Claimed areas he explored for France

Ferdinand Pizarro, 1535 • Sponsoring Nation == Spain • Area Explored == Chile & Peru (South America) • Motivation == Gold & Power

Obstacles & Accomplishments • • • Bad weather Ran out of food Crew mutinied Captured Inca ruler Conquered Incas Only had 400 man army • Brought gold & llamas back to Europe

Samuel de Champlain, 1605 • Sponsoring country == France • Area Explored == St. Lawrence River Valley, Lake Champlain & Quebec • Motivation == trade routes & spread Christianity

Obstacles & Accomplishments • Founded the colony of Quebec • Set up trading posts to trade with Native Americans

Henry Hudson, 1609 • Sponsoring country == England & the Netherlands • Area Explored == East coast of North America • Hudson River Valley • Motivation == Find trade routes >>>North West Passage

Obstacles & Accomplishments • Bad weather/ice • Crew mutinied & sent Hudson adrift on a small boat in ocean • Hudson River named after him • New Netherlands created for the Dutch

Most looking for… • • GOLD GOD GLORY NORTHWEST PASSAGE to Asia