Reasons for European Exploration and Key Explorers

Vocabulary flashcards covering the motives behind European exploration and key facts about notable European explorers.

Reasons for European Exploration

Key motivations driving European journeys, including need for resources, finding gold, acquiring more land, finding a faster route to India & China, and spreading Christianity.

The Vikings

Sailors & warriors from Scandinavia who were the 1st Europeans in North America; reached Newfoundland, Canada in 932 C.E. and found grapes, timber, and furs.

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer sent by Spain who tried to reach Asia, landed in the Caribbean islands in 1492, and made 4 total voyages.

John Cabot

Italian explorer sent by England who looked for a route to Asia, explored the coast of Newfoundland, Canada in 1497, claimed land for England, and made 3 voyages across the Atlantic.

Amerigo Vespucci

Italian navigator on a Spanish ship who explored much of South America in 1497 and wrote a popular book about his travels; North & South America were named for him.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Spanish explorer who crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513, becoming the 1st European to reach the Pacific through the New World.

Jacques Cartier

French explorer who sailed up the St. Lawrence River looking for a NW Passage in 1534, named & claimed Canada for France, and made 3 voyages.

Juan Ponce de Leon

Spanish explorer & governor of Puerto Rico who searched for a mythical “Fountain of Youth” and claimed Florida.

Hernan Cortes

Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztecs in 1519-1521 and claimed Mexico for Spain.

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

Spanish explorer & conquistador in 1684 who searched for the mythical “7 Cities of Gold”, was the 1st European to see the Grand Canyon & American southwest, and claimed land north of Mexico.

Henry Hudson

Englishman who sailed for the English and Dutch from 1609-1611; claimed the Hudson River and modern NY for the Dutch, and claimed Hudson Bay.

Robert de La Salle

French explorer who explored & established forts from the Great Lakes down the Mississippi River in 1684 and claimed Louisiana for France.