EXPLORATION

Once upon a time,

a very long time ago…

Europeans didn’t know

that the Americas existed.

England

France

Spain

Trade European Countries began to trade with East Asia (China and Japan) for luxury good such as spices, silk and jewels.

They traveled across land routes that were very dangerous and slow

Causes of Exploration When exploration began they were

trying to gain a safer sea trade route to East Asia.

Christopher Columbus

While most explorers were trying to go around the bottom of Africa to get to Asia, Christopher Columbus thought that by traveling West into the “Sea of Darkness”

he would eventually reach Asia.

Christopher Columbus On August 3, 1492 Columbus set sail with

the support of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain.

He eventually landed on a small island in the Bahamas and accidentally discoveredAmerica!

He believed (until the day he died) that he had landed in Asia. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella

With his discovery for Spain, rival European countries began exploring to see what riches and fame awaited them in America.

CAUSES FOR EXPLORATION

THE 3 G’SGOD (religious)- Explorers went to

spread Christianity to the Native Americans.

GOLD (economic)- Explorers went to America to try to get rich.

GLORY (political)- Explorers wanted fame!

Religious Reasons

Spain: Wanted to spread Catholicism. They began missions in America to convert Native American to the Catholic faith.

England: The Protestant Reformation in England led to religious persecution. People began to leave England in search of Religious freedom.

France: Felt some impact of the Protestant Reformation and also wanted to spread Catholicism

REFORMATION MARTIN LUTHER & FOLLOWERS

BREAK AWAY FROM CATHOLIC CHURCH- CALLED THE PROTESTANT

REFORMATION

RELIGIOUS RIVALRY

RELIGIOUS RIVALRIES- IN EUROPE – PROTESTANTS &

CATHOLICS DIVIDED- DIFFERENCES WENT TO THE NEW

WORLDSPANISH/FRENCH – CATHOLICENGLISH/DUTCH - PROTESTANT

Political Motivation

European countries were rivals with each other. WHO WOULD BE THE BIGGEST AND RICHEST????

Countries fought over land in the New World to ensure they were getting as much land and resources as they could.

They also sought the fame that came with new discoveries.

Economic Rivalry

Spain: • Looking for a water route to Asia to increase trade.

• Looking for Gold and riches- 7 Cities of Gold

France: • Trade Routes• Trading posts- began a very profitable fur trade with the Native Americans.

England:• Looking for gold• Trade, lumber, and other profitable raw materials

• Mercantilism!!

Economic Rivalry

MERCANTILISM– A NATION’S POWER IS BASED ON ITS WEALTH

- WHICH NATION COULD GET THE MOST GOLD, SILVER, SPICES

- INCREASE RIVALRIES BETWEEN NATIONS

COLOMBIAN EXCHANGE

WHAT WAS THE COLOMBIAN EXCHANGE?1. The exchange of plants, animals, and

diseases from the “old world” (Europe) and the “new world” (America) p.

COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE

The Dutch (Netherlands)

Henry Hudson was exploring the northeast coastlines of North America for the Dutch.

Hudson was searching for a Northwest Passage: Water route to Asia through North America (doesn’t actually exist)

..

New Netherlands (aka New Amsterdam)

The territory Hudson claimed was called New Netherlands (present day New York)

Dutch merchants formed the Dutch West India Company to settle the colony.

They established trading posts along the Hudson river.

Spain: South and Central America

France: Interior of America (Mississippi River)

England: Canada and the East Coast of North America

Where did they explore?

Netherlands:near the Hudson River (present day New York)