Unit 1–European Exploration Lesson 2: Crossing the Atlantic

Lesson 1 Review Due to growth in trade between Europe and Asia, advances in technology, and new ways of thinking, exploration for new trade routes became more desirable in the 1400s.

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus was a sailor from Portugal who came up with the idea of trying to find a trade route to Asia by traveling west, rather than around Africa.

Myth It is a myth that people of the 1400s believed the world was flat, and that if you traveled far enough west, you fall off the Earth. The truth is that educated people knew the world was round, but the size was underestimated.

Ptolemy Most people of the 1400s used the studies of the ancient Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, to estimate the size of Earth. Columbus used Ptolemy’s studies to calculate the distance between Asia and Europe to be about 2,760 miles (4,441 km).

Ptolemy Based on Columbus’ calculations, the journey should only take about two months by ship. Ptolemy, as well as Christopher Columbus, had underestimated the size of Earth.

Ptolemy This is a map from the 1400s based on the studies of Ptolemy.

Spain After spending most of the 1400s trying to drive Muslims out of the country, Spain could finally focus on other goals and ideas. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella wanted to enjoy the same riches from Asia as their neighboring country, Portugal.

Christopher Columbus Columbus was looking for someone to finance his voyage west to Asia. He approached many European nations to fund his trip, but was continuously rejected. Columbus became frustrated, until he met with the King and Queen of Spain.

Columbus and Spain Spain decided to support the expedition for two reasons: 1. Columbus promised to bring Christianity to any lands he found. 2. Spain would become very wealthy if a route to Asia was found.

Columbus and Spain Queen Isabella promised to share any wealth from the voyage with Columbus.

1492 Columbus set sail with about 90 sailors, two smaller ships, and one larger ship. After a month, the sailors began to worry because they had not seen any land. Columbus lied to the men about the distance traveled in his distance log.

“Land, Land!” In the dark of early morning, after more than two months of sailing, a sailor spotted land. Columbus landed on the small island, claimed it for Spain, and named it San Salvador. The island is part of a group of islands that we call the Bahamas.

First Voyage Columbus believed he had landed in the East Indies, a set of islands off the coast of Asia. Due to this belief, Columbus called the natives Indians, who were amazed by the Europeans. Upon his arrival back in Spain, he was considered successful and given the title of Admiral of the Ocean Sea.

Three More Voyages During the next ten years, the last voyage happening in Columbus explored the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica, as well as parts of Central America and northern South America. These later voyages made it clear to Columbus that he had not landed in Asia.

Four Voyages of Columbus

Results of Columbus’ Voyages 1.Unknown lands to Europe, Africa, and Asia were found. 2.Led to future voyages of the area by Spain, eventually developing the Spanish Empire in the Americas.

Line of Demarcation Spain and Portugal wanted to protect their newly claimed lands from each other, as well as other European nations, so they asked Pope Alexander VI to help. The pope drew an imaginary line on a map down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Line of Demarcation Spain controlled everything west of the line, and Portugal controlled everything east. Spain and Portugal then agreed to move the line a little further west in the Treaty of Tordesillas.

Line of Demarcation

Amerigo Vespucci Mapped South America and concluded that it was a continent. European geographers started calling it America in honor of Vespucci.

Vasco Nuñez de Balboa Balboa was governor of a small Spanish town in modern day Panama. In 1513, he and an exploring party walk through the jungles looking for the “great waters” beyond the mountains that the natives talked about.

Vasco Nuñez de Balboa Balboa claimed the water and any adjoining lands for Spain. He was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas.

Ferdinand Magellan Spain sent Magellan to look for a sea route to Asia, around South America, in He underestimated the time it would take to get to Asia. He believed it would take about three weeks once they passed the tip of South America, but it took them four months.

Ferdinand Magellan The crew used a variety of survival skills on the boat during the extra time. The crew reached Asia and finished the voyage back home by going around Africa.

Ferdinand Magellan Magellan was killed during a stop in the Phillipines. After three years at sea, only one of five ships and eighteen of more than 200 crew member returned home to Spain. They became the first to circumnavigate, or sail around, the world.

Magellan’s Voyage

Conclusion Due to competition with Portugal, Spain decided to look for a new route to Asia. Christopher Columbus accidentally discovered a new land that eventually became known as America. His discoveries led to other explorers to grow curious about the Americas, leading up to the first circumnavigation of the world.

Assignments Answer the five review questions for this lesson. Fill in Explorer Chart for the following explorers: Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, and Ferdinand Magellan You will have a Unit 1 Test after you complete Lesson 4.