1. European Exploration & Settlement
Chapter 2
Mrs. Brown 1

2. Earliest Exploration
The Vikings are believed to be the first Europeans to reach the Americas
Vikings from Iceland explored Newfoundland (in Canada) circa 1000
There were no permanent Viking settlements 2

3. Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was just one of many explorers looking to get riches from the Indies
Came up with the idea of sailing WEST, not east
Eastern route was controlled by Portugal 3

4. Columbus’ Voyages
Columbus set sail from Spain with 3 ships in August, 1492
Reached the island of Hispaniola on October 12, 1492
Columbus assumed that he had reached the Indies 4

5. Columbus’ Voyages
In Hispaniola, Columbus came into contact with the Taino Indians
Taino were friendly and welcoming
Columbus soon forced the Taino to mine for gold
Within 100 years, almost all Taino were dead 5

6. Columbian Exchange
Transfer of crops, animals, ideas, and diseases between Europe, Africa, and the Americas 6

7. Spanish Exploration
After Columbus, Spain sent conquistadors to America
Cortes – conquered the Aztecs in Mexico
Aztecs thought he was a god
Pizarro – conquered the Inca in Peru 7

8. Spanish Exploration
The first Spanish settlement in the USA was at St. Augustine, FL
Juan Ponce deLeon, 1513
Spanish built presidios throughout the southwestern US
Catholic missionaries attempted to convert the Indians to Catholicism 8

9. French Exploration
Seeing Spanish success, the French also set up colonies
Explored the Mississippi River and claimed the territory for France
Worked as business partners with the Native Americans, trapping and trading beaver pelts 9

10. English Exploration England also wanted to set up colonies in America
First attempt at a colony was at Roanoke
Colony disappeared
England didn’t try again until 1607 10

11. English Exploration
In 1607, the London Company sent 144 men to Jamestown
Very few of the men had any trade skills
Area was a poor place to settle, but alliances and tobacco helped colony survive 11

12. Jamestown Capt. John Smith became the leader of Jamestown in 1608
“If a man would not work; neither should he eat”
Winter of 1609 – the “Starving Time”
Indians refused to trade with settlers, and only 60 of 500 settlers survived 12