Age of Discovery

Age of Exploration Searching for new trade routes Searching for gold and riches Wanting to increase wealth and territory

Age of Discovery Wanted to discover new routes to the Far East– East Indies( India, China, Japan) 1000- Lief Ericsson was the first European to set foot in North America. He landed in Newfoundland- present day Canada. Mid-1400’s- Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal- sent a ship along the southern coast of Africa, searching for an Eastern passage. 1488- Bartholomew Diaz rounded tip of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope.

Explorer-Spain 1492- Christopher Columbus believed earth was round. He hoped to reach china and the East Indies. His exploration was turned down by King John of Portugal. He was supported by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Columbus landed in San Salvador- Oct. 12, 1492---the “New World”. His three ships were the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria. He called the natives “Indians”. He thought he had reached India. Columbus made four voyages.

Explorers 1497- John Cabot (Italian) Sailing on behalf of England– discovered Newfoundland- present-day Canada ( again?) 1498-Vasco da Gama- sailed around Africa and reached India. He found an ocean route to the orient. 1499-Amerigo Vespucci ( Italian)- accompanied Columbus on a voyage. He also sailed the coast of South America. A map maker named the “New World” after him

Explorers 1522- Ferdinand Megellan( Portugal)- reached Asia by sailing west. Europe was looking for the “North west Passage”– an all water route to Asia through the North American Continent. 1524- Giovanni Verrazano (France) landed in now Cape Fear, North Carolina.

Explorers- Spain 1513- Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida when looking for the fountain of youth. Vasco Nunez de Balboa– crossed the isthmus of Panama to discover the pacific ocean. 1519- Hernando Cortez- landed in Mexico where he found treasures and gold. 1535—Francisco Pizzarro set out for the western coast of South America. 1539- Hernando de Soto searching for gold, he left Cuba and landed in Florida. 1540- He entered Georgia. He caused the death of many natives– smallpox, measles, influenza, etc. He found no gold. He lost most of his army. He eventually died along the Mississippi River.

Spain After Columbus's Voyages Portugal became worried about Spain’s claim to the New World. Pope Alexander decided to divide the new world between Spain and Portugal. He created the Line of Demarcation. All land to the east of the line was Portugal’s. All land to the west was Spain’s. Treaty of Tordesilla- Agreement between Spain and Portugal to move the boundary line. Eventually Spain would try to acquire more land by converting inhabitants to Christianity—Catholicism.

England Believed that to enforce a claim, settlers and soldiers from the explorer’s country must follow and colonize ( occupy and control) the land. All Europeans did not feel it was necessary to get any approval or permission from the Native Americans.

France 1562—Jean Ribault and a group of Huguenots (French Protestants) landed on Florida’s coast. They eventually discovered Port Royal and created Charles Fort there. It was the first European fort. 1564– The French build Fort Caroline in “Spanish” Florida. The Spanish ultimately capture the for and kill the Huguenots.