Created by Courtney Taylor @ Tick-Tock Teach! Vikings & Explorers Created by Courtney Taylor @ Tick-Tock Teach!

Vikings & Explorers SWBAT summarize the accomplishments of the Vikings and the Portuguese, Spanish, English, and French explorers; including, Leif Eriksson, Columbus, Hernando de Soto, Magellan, Henry Hudson, John Cabot, and La Salle.

Vikings & Explorers Motivations for European Explorers competition between nations expansion of international trade technological advances in shipbuilding and navigation Accomplishments of the explorers influenced land claims and colonization (by countries in Europe).

Vikings & Explorers People of that time began to wonder if there was land across the ocean. Who were the first explorers to make a voyage to the Americas? The Vikings were the first explorers to make a voyage to the Americas.

Leif Eriksson Born: After 960 A.D. Born in Iceland He later moved to Greenland Died: Before 1025 A.D. He was a Viking was Greenland His father was Erik the Red, who began the first European settlement of Greenland. Known as “Leif the Lucky”

Leif Eriksson While traveling from Norway to Greenland, he was blown off course. Instead of Greenland, he ended up in North America! So, the Vikings were the first known Europeans to reach North America.

Leif Eriksson Did the other Europeans know of the Vikings’ discovery of North America? Many Europeans didn’t know of the Vikings’ discovery of North America. They didn’t know it existed. The Vikings had a very combative relationship with other Europeans. So, they never shared the news of the new land.

Leif Eriksson North America, which he called Vinland, is currently known as Newfoundland. It is a small island off the coast of Canada.

Christopher Columbus Born: 1451 in Genoa, Italy Died: 1506 He worked as a trader. He learned how to navigate ships & make maps. Sailed to the West Indies (the Caribbean) Landed on the Bahama Islands

Christopher Columbus Sailed for Spain {King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella} He was searching for a new and faster route to the Spice Islands. He sailed west because the Portuguese controlled the eastern route around Africa.

Christopher Columbus He believed the world was small enough that he could reach the Far East by sailing west. He wasn’t the first person to think the Earth was round. Many educated people at this time held this belief.

Christopher Columbus He did not reach his goal to bring back the many riches from the Far East.

Christopher Columbus He did discover the lands of San Salvador – West Indies and wealth. This provided the gateway of Spanish settlements in North and South America.

Ferdinand Magellan Born: Around 1480 AD in Portugal Died: 1521 AD in the Philippines He claimed land for Spain. Credited for being the first person to travel completely around the globe.

Ferdinand Magellan Magellan died before his journey was complete. Even though he didn’t complete the voyage, he’s still known for being the first person to travel all the way around the globe.

Ferdinand Magellan

Hernando de Soto Born: 1500 A.D. Died: 1541 A.D. Spanish Conquistador He let the first expedition across the southeastern United States.

Hernando de Soto He claimed land for Spain. Spanish explorers claimed Florida and the southwest region of what is today the United States and called all of this land New Spain.

John Cabot Born: Around 1450 AD in Genoa, Italy Died: 1499 AD He later moved to England. Died: 1499 AD He sailed for England.

John Cabot He was seeking a faster route to the Indies (Northwest Passage). He tried to copy Columbus’ route by sailing west. He hoped to travel northwest instead of due west from Europe.

John Cabot During this time, it was common for people to believe there was a northwestward passageway to the Indies that connected the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.

John Cabot Cabot never found this passageway because IT DOESN’T EXIST! He did, however, find several countries near the Arctic Circle. He claimed the lands he came across for England.

John Cabot Cabot’s explorations allowed the English to claim the coast of North America. The Dutch gave their land to the British. This eventually led to the thirteen original colonies!

Henry Hudson Born: Around 1570 AD in England Died: Possibly 1611 (date unknown) He sailed for England and the Netherlands.

Henry Hudson He claimed and mapped present-day New York for the Dutch. He claimed and mapped parts of present-day Canada for the English.

Henry Hudson There were many areas in Northern America named after him. Hudson Bay Hudson River Hudson Strait

Robert LaSalle Born: November 22, 1643 in Rouen, France Died:1687 Sailed for France.

Robert LaSalle He explored Canada, the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. He named this area Louisiana.

Robert LaSalle