SPANISH EXPLORATION

Spanish Colonization: Christopher Columbus  Italian Sea Captain and map maker  Wanted to sail west across the Atlantic to reach the Far East  Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain eventually agreed to give him money, supplies and a crew.

The Voyage  Set sail from Spain August 3, 1492 with 90 men and 3 ships (Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria)  After only three weeks, his crew began to complain. Some wanted to throw him overboard.  Finally, on October 12, 1492, sailor Rodrigo Triana spotted land in the moonlight.  They landed in the Bahamas and named the natives Indians because he thought he had reached the East Indies

The Voyage Continued  He made a total of 4 voyages to the “New World”  He died in disgrace because no one yet realized the importance of his discovery

Legacy: Age of Exploration  His voyage started the Age of Exploration. He was the first explorer to cross the Atlantic.  Other Spanish explorers claimed the southwestern United States, Central America, and parts of South America for Spain

French Exploration  France entered the Age of Exploration so that Spain and Portugal would not become too rich and powerful.  The King of France wanted to find a northwest passage – an all water route through or around North America

French Explorers  – Giovanni da Verrazano – explored what is now North Carolina to Newfoundland  – Jacques Cartier – discovered the St. Lawrence river and claimed a large amount of land for France  3. Samuel de Champlain – 1608 founded the first settlement in New France – called it Quebec  4. Champlain was the first European to see the Great Lakes

Robert de La Salle  – dreamed of a great French empire  2. Sailed down the Mississippi River  3. Claimed all land drained by the Mississippi for France  4. Named it Louisiana, after the King