Explorers

The Age of Exploration

4th Grade

MotivationsThe motivations of most

explorers were “God, gold and glory” for

themselves and for their countries.

Leif Eriksson• Leif Eriksson was a Viking

from Greenland who sailed the northern Atlantic Ocean and settled briefly in North America, which he called Vinland.

Leif Eriksson• However, the Vikings’

relationship with other Europeans did not allow them to share their discovery so North America remained unknown to most Europeans.

Leif Eriksson

Christopher Columbus• Christopher Columbus sailed for Spain

looking for a new and faster route to the Far East.

Christopher Columbus• Columbus sailed west because the

Portuguese controlled the eastern route around Africa. Columbus also believed the world was small enough that he could reach the Far East by sailing west. [Columbus was not the first person to believe the world was round. Most educated people of the time held this belief. This is a common misconception.]

Christopher Columbus• Columbus did not reach his goal to bring

back the many riches from the Far East. Instead he discovered the lands and wealth of North and South America.

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/explorers/age_finding

Check out this website to see an interactive map of Columbus’ voyage.

John Cabot• John Cabot sailed for England. Cabot

was looking for a quicker route to the Far East known as the Northwest Passage. Cabot sailed near the Arctic Circle, but he had no success.

John Cabot• He claimed the lands he encountered for

England.

John Cabot

Ferdinand Magellan• Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition was the

first to sail around the world.

Ferdinand Magellan• Although Magellan died before the journey

was complete, he claimed more lands for Spain. His crew proved that sailing around the world could be achieved but only at great cost.

Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/explorers/age_magellan

Check out this website to see an interactive map of Magellan’s voyage.

Hernando de Soto• Hernando de Soto was a Spanish

conquistador who explored throughout the southeastern United States and claimed this land for Spain.

Hernando de Soto

Henry Hudson• Henry Hudson was an

explorer who sailed for both the Netherlands and England. In searching for the Northwest Passage, he claimed and mapped what is now New York for the Dutch and lands in Canada for the English.

Henry Hudson• The Hudson River and Hudson Bay are

named for him.

Henry Hudson

Robert LaSalle• Robert LaSalle explored for France.

LaSalle explored the Mississippi River to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico and named the area Louisiana, claiming it for France.

Robert LaSalle

Robert LaSalle and Henry Hudson

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/explorers/age_finding_french

Check out this website to see information about the path of Hudson

and LaSalle’s voyage.

Maps

Let’s take a look at the paths explorers

traveled…

Overview…• The Spanish conquistadors defeated the Aztecs in Central America

and the Incas in South America. Spanish explorers claimed Florida and the southwest region of what is today the United States and called all of this land New Spain.

• The French explored the St. Lawrence River, the headwaters and the length of the Mississippi River to what is now New Orleans (LaSalle) and claimed this land as New France.

• The Dutch claimed the area around the Hudson River and established New Netherlands and New Amsterdam in what is today New York..

• The English claimed the coast of North America based on the explorations of Cabot and called this land Virginia and New England.

What’s it all mean?In summary, European nations

claimed lands based on the explorations of the explorers that

they sponsored. Settlements were started in order to establish

claims to the land and make a profit from the venture.