European Exploration after 1400 Grade 7 Social Studies Lesson 4 Modified from Jefferson County VLA By Terri Hatch, Wilmington City Schools

Early Exploration After the end of the Roman Empire, the Arabs expanded their relationships with the East. The Chinese also made many explorations in the period. One of the best known Chinese travelers is Hsuan-tsang.

Early Exploration by Europeans European knowledge of Asia gained during the Crusades was extended by the journey across Asia made by missionaries and by Marco Polo. Marco Polo

The European “Age of Discovery” Three things started the European “age of discovery”  The search for new trade routes  The rise of merchant capitalism  The desire to expand the potential of a global economy

Henry the Navigator Henry the Navigator promoted voyages along the coast of Africa that helped change the superstitions and misinformation that had stopped previous attempts to sail there.

Mapping the Globe The extent of the globe was revealed by Bartholomew Diaz’s rounding of the Cape of Good Hope in , Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India in , Christopher Columbus’s first voyage to America in 1492, and the circumnavigation of the globe by Ferdinand Magellan from Statue of Diaz in Cape Town. Christopher Columbus

Africa Africa is a large continent. It’s largest rivers are the Nile (the world’s longest river), the Congo, the Niger, the Samzezi, the Orange, the Limpopo, and the Senegal.

African People African people account for over 12% of the world’s population. They live in 54 nations. Africa has the longest human history of anywhere in the world.

Economy Most of Africa’s population is rural. They live in small villages rather than big cities. Except for cash crops, such as cacao and peanuts, however, agricultural production is low by world standards. Cocoa tree Peanut plant

Important Explorers Hernando Cortes – Conquered Mexico Vasco Da Gama – First European to reach India by sea. Sir Francis Drake – First English explorer to sail around the world. Francisco Pizarro – Conquered Peru and founded Lima Juan Ponce de Leon – Explored Florida

Christopher Columbus Columbus achieved fame by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean in search of a sea route to Asia. He didn’t accomplish this goal. He found islands in the Caribbean Sea instead. During his four voyages westward – between 1492 and 1504 – Columbus explored the West Indies and the coasts of Central and South America.

John Cabot John Cabot made the first English voyage to North America. This gave England a claim to the mainland of North America. This led to the founding of English colonies in America. When Cabot returned to England he was called “The Great Admiral”.

Amerigo Vespucci Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian-born explorer for whom America was named. Martin Waldseemuller, a German mapmaker, believed that Vespucci was the first European to reach the New World.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa Vasco Nunez de Balboa was the first European to see the eastern shore of the Pacific Ocean. He saw it from a mountaintop in what is now Panama. After a later exploration, Balboa and four friends were accused of treason by Governor Pedrarias and were beheaded.

Hernando Cortes Hernando Cortes was a Spanish explorer who conquered what is now central and southern Mexico. He conquered the Aztec Indians in Cortes took the Aztec emperor, Montezuma II hostage and tried to rule the empire through him. King Charles I of Spain appointed Cortes Governor and captain general of the newly conquered territory.

Francisco Pizarro Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conqueror. His conquest of the Inca empire in Peru opened the way for Spain’s colonization of most of South America. In 1535, Pizarro founded the city of Lima and made it Peru’s capital. Peru Pizarro

Juan Ponce de Leon Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer that led the first recorded European expedition to reach what is now Florida. According to a popular story, Ponce de Leon came to Florida to find a spring called the Fountain of Youth. Florida Ponce de Leon

Vasco da Gama Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese sea captain and explorer. Da Gama sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to India in the late 1490’s. His voyage opened the first all-water trade route between Europe and Asia. Cape of Good Hope Vasco da Gama

The Admiral of the Sea of India On May 20, 1498, da Gama reached Calicut, India. Da Gama arrived back in Lisbon in King Manuel rewarded him and gave him the title of Admiral of the Sea of India.

Ferdinand Magellan Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese sea captain who led the first expedition that sailed around the world. His voyage provided the first positive proof that the earth is round. Magellan discovered the passage to the Pacific that is known as the Strait of Magellan. He named the ocean the Pacific, which means peaceful. Strait of Magellan

End of Lesson 4 You need to use the information from this PowerPoint to answer the questions in VLA lesson four. If you would like to learn more about any of the topics, there is more information in the VLA lesson area.