European Explorers in the

New World

Presented by Brian Klinck

Europeans wanted Silks & Spices from Asia

Also wanted to spread Christianity

Used “new” technology◦ Astrolabes◦ Compasses

Why Explore at all?

Christopher Columbus

Fernando Cortez

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

Juan Ponce de Leon

Spain

Born in Italy; sailed for Spain Crew threatened mutiny Landed in 1492 on what is today the

Bahamas Named place he landed San Salvador

(Spanish for Holy Savior). Thought he found Asia 4 voyages Died never knowing he found “New World”

Christopher Columbus

Came over to Hispaniola on Columbus’ 2nd voyage

Conquered current day Puerto Rico while looking for gold

Looked for “Fountain of Youth” rumored to be in present day Flordia

Settled in present day Flordia and continued looking for the “Fountain of Youth”

Juan Ponce de Leon

Lived in Cuba, sailed under Spanish flag to Mexico

Conquered the Aztec Indians Robbed Aztecs of all of their gold Took some Aztecs to Spain, upon return he

surrounded Aztecs and ended up killing most of them

Hernan Cortez

Lived in Mexico Traveled north with large band of soldiers to

find “One of the seven Cities of Gold”◦ Was informed of this city from a priest

Traveled to Grand Canyon & found nothing Natives told him of another large gold

deposit in present day Kansas◦ Found nothing

Considered a successful expedition by missionaries

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

John Cabot Sir Francis Drake

Holland Henry Hudson

FranceRobert de la Salle

England & others

Born in Italy, sailed under the British flag. Was funded by merchants Explored present day Newfoundland. Thought he had found Asia Explored to the Chesapeake Bay

John Cabot

Sailed under the English flag Explored from the southern tip of South

America up to the current day Canada/US border.

Was a pirate as well, robbing Spanish ships of their gold

After robbing quite a few ships, Drake sailed to Asia and loaded up with spices

Was able to pay back investors 50 times what they paid for his voyage.

Sir Francis Drake

Born in England; sailed under flag of Holland

Tried to get to Asia by going north of Asia Forced to change routes and followed

similar course as Cabot to Chesapeake Bay Found Hudson River Drew 1st map of Hudson Bay Was mutinied by his crew in 1611. Sent off

ship without food nor water.

Henry Hudson

French by birth; sailed under the French flag. Explored the Great Lakes, & the Mississippi River Claimed all lands near the Mississippi River for the

French Flag, but did not start any settlements there

On last voyage, he missed going up the Mississippi River and started a settlement near what is today Houston, TX.

Got Indians mad at him; he wouldn’t trade with them.

Exploring party though he was crazy, so they killed him and left him in the woods.

Robert de la Salle

New settlements Gold More land for Kings & Queens New more accurate maps New trade routes

Positive effects of exploration

Contageous disease Smallpox

Many Natives were killed No one ever found Northwest Passage (until

about 5 years ago as told in class)

Negative effects of exploration

1. What were the 3 main reasons that explorers came to the New World? Gold, Religion, & Land (or Glory)

2. Why did the Aztecs welcome Cortez into their community? They believed that he was a god who was coming

to conquer them and tried to appease him.

3. Do you think that the king of France was happy with de la Salle after he messed up when trying to start a settlement near present day Houston? Why or why not?

Review Questions

Information from: Hirsch, Jr. E.D. – Editor – History and

Geography, 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc., New Jersey.

Bower, Bert & Jim Lobdell , History Alive! America’s Past, 2003 by Teachers’ Curriculum Institute, Palo Alto, California.

References