History Explorers

Gold

Europeans wanted gold, silver, spices, and other valuable resources

Trade

Europeans wanted faster and easier routes to Asia to buy and sell goods

Glory

Europeans wanted to claim more territory and become more powerful

God

Europeans wanted to spread Christianity to other parts of the world

Europeans countries were ______ with one another

Competing

Northwest Passage

A water route through North America Europeans hoped would provide a shorter route to Asia

Was America empty before 1492

NO indigenous peoples were already here and thriving with their own governments and civilizations

Indigenous societies had developed…

Governments and leaders

Different languages

Farming methods and trade networks

Cities, villages, and homes suited to their environments

Unique cultures and traditions

Leif Erikson

Vikings

Reached North America around 1000CE, hundreds of years beofre Columbus

Christopher Columbus

Spain

Sailed west toward Asia but landed in the Caribbean in 1492

John Caboot

England

Explored Newfoundland in 1497 and claimed land for England

Amerigo Vespucci

Spain and Portugal

Helped Europeans recognize that the Americad were separate continents. Americas and named after him

Juan Ponce de Leon

Spain

Explored Florida in 1514 and was associated with the search for the fountain of youth

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Spain

Crossed Panama in 1513 and became the first known European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas

Hernan Cortes

Spain

Led the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in Mexico, with help from Indigenous allies

JACQUES CARTIER

France

Explored the St Lawrence River and claimed land in Canada for France

Henry Hudson

Netherlands/England

Explored the Hudson River region and claimed land for the Dutch

Robert de Salle

France

Explored the Mississippi River and claimed Louisiana for France

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish conquistador

Conquered the Inca Empire in South America

Francisco Coronado

Spanish Explorer

Explored parts of the American Southwest

Searched for the legendary Seven Cites of Gold

Samuel de Champlain

French explorer

Founded Quebec in 1608

What did Spain want to do

Gain more riches

Claim more land

Spread God

Expand its power

What did France want to do

Fur trade

Settled in Canada but needed help from indians

What are french fur traders/trappers called

Coureurs de Bois

What did england want to do

Land, resourses, and profitable colonies

Jamestown was the first colony

What did the dutch want

Trade

New Netherland on modern NY

New Amsterdam on Manhattan

From the Americas

Potatos, corn, tomatoes, cacao, tobacco

To america

Horses, cattle, pigs, wheat, sugarcane, smallpox