2. Early Explorers to Canada
The 3 C’s
Cabot, Cartier, Champlain

3. What is an explorer? What is your definition?
A person who seeks new knowledge and the opportunities that it will bring
Motivations
New knowledge of what the world and universe are like and how things work
Commercial interests; new opportunities to produce, buy, sell, and make profit
National or political; knowledge that will provide power

4. The 3 C’s of Canada Exploration
After the Vikings the next explorers to make contact in North America were
John Cabot
Jacques Cartier
Samuel de Champlain

5. These explorers were motivated by
Curiosity
Religious fervor and the desire to convert the infidels
Economic gain
Fame
The quest for accomplishment

6. DANGERS! Real and imagined
Little was known outside of the immediate area around Europe
Fear of the unknown fed by mythology – monsters, giant whirlpools, “the edge of the world”
Poor navigational techniques
Inability to store food and little understanding of nutrition
Ships weren’t strong enough to weather bad storms
Which motivator do you think was strong enough for them to overcome their fears?

7. Leading up to Exploration
Late 15th and early 16th century, there were great advances in global knowledge and improvement to technology that could allow for lengthy voyages.
Ultimately, these advances led to the circumnavigation of the globe

8. John Cabot

9. Giovanni Caboto (aka John Cabot)
Born in Genoa, Italy in 1449/1450.
Died off the coast of Newfoundland circa 1498/1499
He and his 3 sons were given permission (Letters Patent) by King Henry VII of England, to explore, conquer, and take over new lands.
Cabot wanted, expected, to find China or Japan by sailing westward across the Atlantic Ocean

10. The First Voyage
Cabot sailed from Bristol, England in May 1497 with 18 men upon the Matthew
In June of that year he landed somewhere on the North American Coast; most likely Labrador, Newfoundland, or Cape Breton Island
Cabot claimed the land for England and returned back.

11. The Second trip: Sequels are always a bigger production
1498 Henry VII gave Cabot permission to return, this time with 5 ships and 300 men.
He landed in Greenland, then sailed southward, going probably as far as Chesapeake Bay (current day Maryland)
Unable to find the rich lands he was looking for (fish only makes a king happy for so long), he turned back to England
However, he never arrived in England. Likely, he was shipwrecked off of the coast of Newfoundland.

12. Cabot’s Contribution
The news of Cabot’s discovery of a new continent reached Europe, even though he didn’t
For this reason, it is said that he made the “intellectual discovery of America”
Cabot’s voyages provided the basis for England’s claim to North America and led to the opening of the rich northwest Atlantic fishery.