For centuries, Europeans traveled Polo’s route – the Silk Road – to trade with the East but Empires wanted to expand to other places and began exploring the “New World”.

Alarmed by Portugal’s early success, the Spanish rulers, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, were desperate to find a water route to India. To help Spain, they hired Christopher Columbus.

Columbus took his idea to the ruler of Portugal. They refused Columbus took his idea to the ruler of Portugal. They refused. Columbus then went to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. They agreed to finance Columbus and provided three ships—The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Columbus left Spain in August 1492 sailing to the West. He believed Asia was 6 weeks away. The trip lasted much longer than 6 weeks.

On October 12, 1492, Columbus landed on the island of San Salvador, off the coast of North America. Believing he had found India, he called the inhabitants Indians.

Columbus made a total of 4 trips before returned to Spain in leg irons to spend the remainder of his life imprisoned for wasting the royal money of Ferdinand and Isabella.

In all, Columbus made four trips to North America, but he always believed, until he died, that he had found India.

The most powerful kingdoms were: France

Reasons for European Exploration: French (France) France began sending explorers to North America in 1562 in search of gold. French explorers created a colony in South Carolina (Charlesfort in 1562) and Florida (Fort Caroline in 1564) but these were later taken over by the Spanish. 8

French Explorer Samuel de Champlain found a great number of beaver near the Canadian shores. He claimed this area for France and established the town of Quebec.

Reasons for European Exploration of North America Country: France Settlement in North America: Eastern Coast of Canada Reasons: Fur Trade Famous Explorers: Samuel de Champlain

The most powerful kingdoms were: England Parker Points 2005

Reasons for European Exploration: British (Great Britain) Great Britain (England) began sending explorers to the New World in the 1580’s in search of exotic foods, wealth (gold), and mercantilism. Mercantilism – Economic system based on the belief that a country could increase its wealth by exporting more than they import. The British wanted to create colonies that would help produce raw materials (cotton, tobacco, forest products, etc.) that could be imported into Great Britain. British companies would then refine these products and sell the finished product back to the colonies at a higher rate. 12

Reasons for European Exploration of North America Country: Spain Settlement Regions (North America): Florida, GA Coast Reasons: Gold Famous Explorers: Francisco Coronado (1541) , Hernando de Soto

Reasons for European Exploration of North America Country: England Settlement Areas: East Coast America Reasons: Natural Resources Famous Explorers: John Cabot (1497)

By the 1660’s, England had established 12 colonies along the eastern coast of North America.

The most powerful kingdoms were: SPAIN

The rulers of Spain, however, soon realized that Columbus had discovered a “New World.” They began to send Spanish explorers, called conquistadors (conquerers), to take control of their newly discovered lands.

Reasons for European Exploration: Spanish (Spain) Spain began sending explorers to the New World for God, glory, and gold. Spain hoped to convert the Native Americans to Catholicism/Christianity (God), gain more power through the expansion of the Spanish Empire (glory), and discover new riches (gold). Juan Ponce de Leon came to Florida as early as 1513; Hernando DeSoto was the first Spanish explorer to lead an expedition through Georgia. 18