Explorers of North America Background Information In the

Explorers of North America

Background Information In the 1400, Europeans did not know much about the world. • most Europeans had never been outside Europe • European map of the world included only Europe, Asia, and the top of Africa. • believed there was only one ocean, the Ocean Sea • many people thought the world was flat • educated Europeans knew that it was round • had no idea how large the world was

Europeans had traveled across some dangerous territory (land) into Asia because of the spices, silks, and other precious items. Many explorers thought there was a faster sea route from Europe into Asia.

Essential Questions 1. Who were the explorers? 2. What did they hope to find? 3. Who sponsored (paid for) their voyages (trips)? 4. What were some of their obstacles (challenges)? 5. What did they accomplish? 6. How did they interact with the Native Americans? 7. How did the Europeans and Native Americans help or hurt each other?

Christopher Columbus REASON for VOYAGES -to find a western sea route to Asia

Christopher Columbus WHO SPONSORED (PAID FOR) the VOYAGES -Spain

Christopher Columbus OBSTACLES/CHALLENGES -had no maps, crew was frightened

Christopher Columbus ACHIEVEMENTS/SUCCESSES -Revealed the existence of the Natives to the Europeans

Christopher Columbus Santa Maria Nina and Pinta

John Cabot REASON for VOYAGES -to find a western sea route to Asia

John Cabot WHO SPONSORED (PAID FOR) the VOYAGES -England

John Cabot OBSTACLES/CHALLENGES -had no maps

John Cabot ACHIEVEMENTS/SUCCESSES -Explored the east coast of North America

John Cabot

Juan Ponce de Leon REASON for VOYAGES -looking for riches and the “Fountain of Youth”

Juan Ponce de Leon WHO SPONSORED (PAID FOR) the VOYAGES -Spain

Juan Ponce de Leon OBSTACLES/CHALLENGES -Fought with American Indians

Juan Ponce de Leon ACHIEVEMENTS/SUCCESSES -First European in Florida, discovered the Gulf Stream

Juan Ponce de Leon

Vasco Nunez de Balboa REASON for VOYAGES -looking for gold

Vasco Nunez de Balboa WHO SPONSORED (PAID FOR) the VOYAGES -Spain

Vasco Nunez de Balboa ACHIEVEMENTS/SUCCESSES -First European to reach Pacific Ocean from the east

Vasco Nunez de Balboa OBSTACLES/CHALLENGES -Had to cross mountains and jungles of Panama; fought with Indians

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Jacques Cartier REASON for VOYAGES -Northwest passage to Pacific; gold

Jacques Cartier WHO SPONSORED (PAID FOR) the VOYAGES -France

Jacques Cartier OBSTACLES/CHALLENGES -no route, cold winters, sick crew

Jacques Cartier

Jacques Cartier ACHIEVEMENTS/SUCCESSES -Explored eastern Canada and St. Lawrence River

Henry Hudson REASON for VOYAGES -Northwest passage to Asia

Henry Hudson WHO SPONSORED (PAID FOR) the VOYAGES -England

Henry Hudson OBSTACLES/CHALLENGES -No route, cold winters, crew mutinied

Henry Hudson ACHIEVEMENTS/SUCCESSES -Explored Hudson River and Hudson Bay

Henry Hudson