Social Studies European Explorers Explorers Explorers People from

Social Studies: European Explorers

Explorers • Explorers: – People from Europe that travelled in places that they never visited before – Usually came from places like France, England Spain • They made lots of changes (good and bad) to the places they went to

But Why? • Why would these people want to travel to places they didn’t know about? – Unknown places = • Dangerous – Unknown people, animals, food, plants etc. • Sickness • Very far away • Could get attacked

First Explorers • Looking for an ocean route – To a place called The Indies • China, Japan and India • They wanted to trade for things like silk cloth and spices – Routes from Asia to Europe were controlled by traders who charged high taxes for bringing things to Europe

First Explorers • Europeans didn’t want to pay these taxes – If they could find their own route they could get spices and silk themselves – Anyone who found this route would be rich and famous • One famous explorer: Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus • Master Mariner and studied every map he could find • In 1492, the king and queen of Spain paid for his trip to sail from Europe to Asia

Christopher Columbus • 3 ships: – Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta – He kept a journal of his travels • 2 months of traveling with no land – Earth is flat! – Mutiny! – Luckily, Columbus convinced his crew to believe in him one more time

Columbus’ Mistake • He finally reached land on October 12 th – Returned to Spain in 1493 – Said that he reached an unknown part of Indies – BUT it was actually a part of North America (islands that we call the Caribbean now)

The People • Columbus met people on the islands and called them Indians – This is a word that people used A LONG TIME AGO to describe Aboriginal people – We do not use this word to describe them anymore – But was this really ‘new’ land?

Cabot • Now that people knew Columbus found new land, Europeans wanted to find even more new land! – When a country takes over another land, that land becomes a colony • They think that land belongs to them, they make homes, take resources, trade and sell – Another explorer: John Cabot

John Cabot • Now England wanted to explore! • 1497 – King Henry VII gave permission to John Cabot to find land for England – Cabot said he could get to Asia by going across the Atlantic Ocean • Business people (merchants) in England paid for Cabot’s trip – They wanted to make lots of money if Cabot found a new route

John Cabot’s Journey • Ship: Matthew; left on May 1497 • Cabot was going more north than Columbus – It would be colder iceberg – His crew got worried and scared – They found land on June 14, 1497 – He didn’t see anyone so he stuck a flag in the ground and said the land was England’s – Hmmm… Does this sound right?

What did Cabot find? • Fish! • They could catch fish by dipping buckets into the water! • Cabot also thought he went to the Indies…

King Henry VII to Cabot Seeke out, discover and finde whatsoever isles countries, regions or provinces of the heathens and infidels • Find and discover lands where heathens and infidels live • Heathen? Infidel? – Henry VII believed that people who were not Christians did not have rights (to land, property, schooling, anything!) – Making people become Christian

Next Time… • What happened to the people living there? • Was it good or bad that European explorers came? • What would happen to us if they didn’t? • What would happen to Aboriginal people if they didn’t? • Are their actions still affecting us? • Columbus Day?