EXPLORATION CHRISTENSEN 2015

AGE OF DISCOVERY Explorers wanted to trade with the east Five main countries sent explorers: Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, England FACT 12 ounces of pepper could cost $125!

Reasons for Exploring: Desire for Wealth Spread of Christianity Desire to seek Knowledge New Technology in sailing: More accurate Maps Astrolabe Improved Navigation New and Improved Ships (learned from China!)

Marco Polo (1254-1324) Traveled for Italy…By Land Lived for many years From Venice to China Lived for many years Trade routes across land were used to get to the east Travel by land was expensive He returned and wrote The Travels of Marco Polo Book told stories of the riches of the east

Marco Polo’s Journey

One Theory about the Game… The Marco Polo game possibly reenacts the return voyage of Marco Polo. The voyage involved a fleet of ships and a large number of voyagers. When Marco Polo finally did return, over 600 of his travel companions were missing. One theory is that the fleet was caught in a great storm that destroyed many of the ships and left the crew and passengers in the ocean. Hoping to be found, they yell for the expedition leader. Visibility is very low (hence the closed eyes) and Marco Polo tries desperately to find the swimmers (hence the pool). The yells come from all around which adds to the confusion. The game ends when he finally connects with one player which portrays the small percentage of people that survived the voyage.

Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) Sailed for Portugal Created a school for Navigators Mapped the African coast to take part in the West-African trade. Was a crusader as much as a discoverer.

Henry’s Explorations

Bartolomeu Dias (1450-1500) Sailed for Portugal down the western coast of Africa Reached the southern tip Discovered the “Cape of Good Hope” and the Indian Ocean The name was in the Hope that a sea route to India had been found

Dias’ Journey

Admiral Dom Vasco da Gama (c. 1469 - 1524) Sailed for Portugal His fleet passed the Cape of Good Hope Arrived at Calcutta, India The trade route gave Portugal a Monopoly on sea trading

da Gama’s Journey

Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) Sailed for Spain, after being denied by many other countries Departed on his first voyage from southern Spain, on August 2, 1492 Columbus arrived in Bahamas on October 12 FACT Columbus never actually made it to “America” or knew he had found a new continent.

Columbus’s Journey

John Cabot (1450-1498) Sailed for Italy and England Wanted to follow in Columbus’s footsteps First European to reach North America (probably Newfoundland, Canada) on June 24, 1497

Cabot’s Voyage

Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) Italian-born explorer of South America (1499-1502) He was amazed at the size of South America He was the first to suggest it was a new continent FACT Later maps of the New World named it after Amerigo…America!

Vespucci’s Voyage

Vasco Núñez de Balboa (1475-1519) Spanish conquistador and explorer. He was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean (Sept 13, 1513). He marched through the jungles of what is now Panama. He claimed the Pacific Ocean and all its shores for Spain

Balboa’s Voyage

Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) Sailed for Spain The first explorer to lead an expedition around the world. Journey took 3 years Killed in the Philippines Southern tip of S. America is named the Strait of Magellan FACT Out of 5 ships and 250 men, only 1 ship and 18 men made it around the world!

Magellan’s Voyage

Jacques Cartier (1491-1557) Sailed for France His original intent was to find the Northwest Passage to Asia. Explored the St. Lawrence River to present day Montreal. Cartier's exploration was the base for France's claim to Canada.

Cartier’s Voyage