Module 1.1 Age of Exploration

What was Europe experiencing by the 1490s?

A curiosity about the world

Which European superpowers searched for glory, gold, and silver?

Spain, England, France, and Portugal

What religious motivations influenced exploration?

Catholicism and Protestantism

Who impressed Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain with his voyages?

Columbus

Why did Spain fear Portugal during exploration?

Portugal had a strong army, navy, and favorable geographic position

What treaty divided land between Spain and Portugal?

Treaty of Tordesillas

When was the Treaty of Tordesillas signed?

1494

Which land did Portugal gain from the Treaty of Tordesillas?

Brazil

Where did Spanish conquistadors mostly work initially?

Caribbean islands

What major impact did European diseases have on Indigenous populations?

Devastated populations with no immunity

Who was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from Panama?

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

When did Vasco Núñez de Balboa see the Pacific Ocean?

1513

Who explored and declared Florida for Spain?

Juan Ponce de León

Which areas did Hernando de Soto explore?

Oklahoma to the Mississippi River

When did Francisco Vázquez de Coronado explore the southwestern US?

1540–1542

Which areas did Francisco Vázquez de Coronado explore?

Mexico, Rio Grande, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas

Did Hernando de Soto or Coronado find rich indigenous civilizations?

No

What was the significance of these expeditions for Spain?

Increased knowledge of North America and asserted territorial claims