Why Go Exploring??Why Go Exploring??

Brenda DavisBrenda Davis

July 2009July 2009

Why Go Exploring?Why Go Exploring?

The voyages of Christopher Columbus were part of the Age of Exploration of the Americas. In addition to Columbus, explorers from many other European countries sailed across the Atlantic to explore the newly-discovered Americas. The trip across the Atlantic Ocean was long, dangerous and expensive. What made these men so anxious to undertake such a challenging journey? Let’s find out!

Why did Europeans explore the Americas?

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Draw this concept map on your paper to take notes.

There were many reasons There were many reasons for the exploration of the for the exploration of the

Americas. In this lesson, we Americas. In this lesson, we will examine 5 important will examine 5 important

motivations for the motivations for the Europeans. Europeans.

Reason 1:Reason 1: Find a quicker route to the Find a quicker route to the

spices of Asia.spices of Asia.

Before refrigerators, people Before refrigerators, people used spices to preserve their used spices to preserve their food, or to mask the taste of food, or to mask the taste of spoiled food. Unfortunately, spoiled food. Unfortunately, spices did not grow in the spices did not grow in the

European climate. They had to European climate. They had to be imported from countries in be imported from countries in Asia – China, Japan and India – Asia – China, Japan and India –

that were known as “The that were known as “The Indies”.Indies”.

An Italian merchant named An Italian merchant named Marco Polo had made the Marco Polo had made the

overland trip to China in the overland trip to China in the 1200’s and brought back many 1200’s and brought back many spices, silks, and other goods spices, silks, and other goods that the Europeans wanted. that the Europeans wanted.

Marco Polo’s trip took 24 years Marco Polo’s trip took 24 years – far too long to make trading – far too long to make trading

with The Indies profitable.with The Indies profitable.

The map below shows all the known world during Polo’s time. People still believed the Earth was flat and that you would sail off the edge if you sailed west from Europe.

Columbus’ bright idea!Columbus’ bright idea!Columbus believed the Earth was round, and that he could sail to the Indies by simply sailing west. When he reached the Americas in 1492, he thought he was in the West Indies. That is why he called the inhabitants “Indians”.

The map to the right shows Columbus’ idea of what the Earth looked like. Notice the absence of the Americas.

If only….If only….Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas took about 70 days. If he had actually found the West Indies, it would have been a much quicker route to the much-desired spices. Although Columbus felt like a failure when he realized he had not reached the Indies, his voyages made an impact that completely changed the world he knew.

Reason 2:Reason 2: Gold! Gold!

The people of Europe fought The people of Europe fought many expensive wars and they many expensive wars and they looked to the resources of the looked to the resources of the Americas to fund those wars.Americas to fund those wars.

The first explorers of Mexico The first explorers of Mexico discovered sophisticated discovered sophisticated

Native American cultures with Native American cultures with jewelry and sculptures made of jewelry and sculptures made of

gold, silver and precious gold, silver and precious stones. They also heard stories stones. They also heard stories

of entire cities made of gold of entire cities made of gold from the Native Americans.from the Native Americans.

Many people invested money in Many people invested money in building ships to help the building ships to help the

explorers find the precious explorers find the precious stones and metals and bring stones and metals and bring

them back to Europe.them back to Europe.

Reason 3:Reason 3: Gain Knowledge Gain Knowledge

In the 1400’s most Europeans In the 1400’s most Europeans had never been more than a had never been more than a few miles from where they few miles from where they

were born. Marco Polo’s stories were born. Marco Polo’s stories of the exciting cultures in Asia of the exciting cultures in Asia

made people want to know made people want to know more about the world. more about the world.

There were no TV’s, radios, There were no TV’s, radios, phones or computers. The only phones or computers. The only way to learn about the world way to learn about the world was to go and explore it. So was to go and explore it. So

they did! they did!

Reason 4:Reason 4: Build Empires Build Empires

An empire is a group of An empire is a group of countries, or territories, countries, or territories,

ruled by one government. ruled by one government.

All of the countries in Europe All of the countries in Europe occupy a land that is about the occupy a land that is about the size of the United States. The size of the United States. The

rulers of the European countries rulers of the European countries wanted more land – and more wanted more land – and more

resources. They set out to resources. They set out to conquer the Americas and conquer the Americas and

control the land and resources control the land and resources so they could grow larger.so they could grow larger.

Reason 5:Reason 5: Spread Christianity Spread Christianity

Christianity was the only Christianity was the only religion in Europe in the religion in Europe in the

1400’s and the kings and 1400’s and the kings and queens of those countries queens of those countries

were very religious.were very religious.

The kings and queens The kings and queens financed the expeditions so financed the expeditions so the native peoples could be the native peoples could be converted to Christianity.converted to Christianity.

Sum It Up!Sum It Up!

•Look back at your notes. Think about the different reasons that the explorers began sailing to the Americas.

•Pretend you are an European explorer of the 1500’s.

•Write a journal entry explaining why you are undertaking such a dangerous voyage to the Americas.

•Add a map of your travels to your journal entry.