European Explorers in the New World

1. European Explorers in the New World Presented by Brian Klinck

2. Why Explore at all? • Europeans wanted Silks & Spices from Asia • Also wanted to spread Christianity • Used “new” technology • Astrolabes • Compasses

3. Spain • Christopher Columbus • Fernando Cortez • Francisco Vasquez de Coronado • Juan Ponce de Leon

4. Christopher Columbus • 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”

5. Juan Ponce de Leon • Came over to Hispaniola on Columbus’ 2nd voyage • Conquered current day Puerto Ricowhile 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”

6. Hernan Cortez • 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

7. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado • 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

8. England & others • John Cabot • Sir Francis Drake Holland • Henry Hudson France • Robert de la Salle

9. John Cabot • 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

10. Sir Francis Drake • 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.

11. Henry Hudson • 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.

12. Robert de la Salle • 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.

13. Positive effects of exploration • New settlements • Gold • More land for Kings & Queens • New more accurate maps • New trade routes

14. Negative 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)

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

16. References 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.