European Explorers Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about European explorers and related historical concepts.

Leif Ericson's Colony

An early Norse settlement in North America, often identified with L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland.

The Silk Road

An ancient network of trade routes connecting the East and West, facilitating economic, cultural, and political interactions.

Donnaconna

A St. Lawrence Iroquoian chief who was encountered and later taken to France by Jacques Cartier.

Giovanni Verrazano

An Italian explorer who charted the Atlantic coast of North America for France in 1524, sailing into New York Harbor.

Marco Polo

A Venetian merchant and explorer whose 13th-century travels to Asia were documented in 'The Travels of Marco Polo,' influencing European cartography and exploration.

Great Chain of Being

A hierarchical structure of all matter and life, believed to have been decreed by God, which was a central concept in medieval European thought.

St. Brendan

An Irish monastic saint known for his legendary voyage across the Atlantic in search of the 'Promised Land of the Saints'.

Martin Frobisher

An English sailor who made three voyages to the New World in search of the Northwest Passage and gold.

Prince Henry's Academy

Refers to the School of Navigation established by Prince Henry the Navigator in Portugal, which advanced maritime exploration and discovery.

Jacques Cartier

A French explorer who made three voyages to North America, exploring the St. Lawrence River and claiming the land for France.

Christopher Columbus

An Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, initiating European colonization of the Americas.

Motivations for European Exploration

Key reasons included the pursuit of profit/trade (gold, spices), the desire to spread religion (Christianity), and the spirit of adventure and discovery.

Margarite de la Roche

A French noblewoman who was marooned on Sable Island as punishment in the 16th century, enduring extreme isolation.