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Chapter 3 Notes1Marco Polo was a merchant from Italy. He traveled with his father to China when he was 17.Marco Polo stayed in China for 16 years. He saw many inventions. When he returned, a book_ was written about his travels.

Marco Polo is a famous explorer for his travel to China and Far East23. Because of Marco Polos book, many Europeans became interested in traveling to Asia.4. The Silk Road was a system of trade routes that connected China to Europe.5. Many merchants traveled on the Silk Road to buy silk, spices, and other goods.

Drawing of Marco Polos travels from 137536. Prince Henry of Portugal created a school for navigation. 7. Vasco Da Gama led the first voyage from Europe to reach India. Other sailors soon followed da Gamas route to get spices from India.

Da Gamas shipDa Gama landing in India

8. Sailors used a compass to find their direction.

9. Christopher Columbus thought it would be faster to sail west to reach India.10. In 1492, Columbus asked King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to pay for his voyage. 11. Columbus promised to bring the King and Queen of Spain gold and spices. He also wanted to share their religion.

12. In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue!13. He took three ships: the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria.14. A few months later, they landed on an island. Columbus thought he had reached India, so he called the people Indians.15. Columbus and his crew met the Taino, the people who lived there. They gave Columbus gold.

16. The King and Queen of Spain sent Columbus back with people to start a settlement.17. The Europeans brought diseases that caused an epidemic that killed many of the Taino.18. Columbus brought plants back to Spain that they had never seen: corn, potatoes, cacao (chocolate)

19. Amerigo Vespucci realized Columbus had discovered a new land. It became called America.20. Ferdinand Magellan led the first voyage to circumnavigate the world.21. Of the 250 men who started the journey, only 18 survived the trip.

Amerigo Vespucci

Ferdinand Magellan22. Hernan Cortes was a conquistador (conqueror) who led an expedition to Mexico. 23. Cortes went to the Aztec Empire. He kidnapped the ruler Moctezuma and took all their gold. He destroyed the Aztecs.

24. Juan Ponce de Leon was the first explorer in Florida. He was looking for the fountain of youth. 25. In 1539, Hernando de Soto explored across Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. 26. Many Indians were made slaves by explorers.

Hernando de SotoJuan Ponce de Leon