THE AGE OF

EXPLORATION:

•Pictures courtesy the Library of Congress•Letter excerpts and eyewitness accounts courtesy Wisconsin Historical Society’s American Journeys

Parents,We are currently reviewing the European explorers Columbus, Cabot, Balboa, Ponce de Leon, Cartier and Hudson. We have read newspaper articles, comprehension passages and textbooks about the explorers and are now focusing on summarizing the information using graphic organizers. The graphic organizers will be used to write summary paragraphs about each explorer. Please DO NOT have your child write the paragraphs at home, as we will be focusing on this in the classroom.

John Cabot: merchantCountry of Origin : ItalySponsor Country: England

Purpose/Goal/Motive: route to Asia in search of gold, spices, silk and other riches (just like Columbus)

Regions Explored: New lands along northeastern coast of Americas (not sure exactly where in this area)

Obstacles: no maps, bad storms, ship sunk on 3rd

and final voyage; never returned

Results: Did not find people, silk or spices, but a plentiful fishing area

Cabot’s Route of Explorations

Juan Ponce de Leon: soldierOrigin/Sponsor Country: Spain

Purpose/Goal/Motive: to claim land for Spain; search for riches; searched for “Fountain of Youth” in present-day Florida

Obstacles: fought with some Natives; traded with others

Results of Exploration: Discovered/explored/claimed lands of Florida, Panama and Central America; first European explorer to reach Pacific Ocean from Americas side; planted corn; started a settlement; first explorer to reach present day United States

Other important information: Was on Columbus’ 2nd voyage, but stayed behind in West Indies to start a settlement; served as governor of Puerto Rico

Death: Shot by poisonous arrow and later died from wound

Vasco Nunez de BalboaSponsor Country: Spain

Purpose/Goal/Motive: explore West Indies for gold and riches; claim land for Spain

Regions Explored: Discovered/explored/claimed lands of Panama and Central America; first European explorer to reach Pacific Ocean from American side (North America)

Obstacles: Native Americans; captured Indians as slaves and stole gold from the Indians

Death: Was wrongly accused of being a traitor and was beheaded for treason

Crossed the Isthmus of Panama in Central America; Was the first European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean from the side of North America

Vasco Nunez de Balboa Route of Exploration

Christopher Columbus: sailorChristopher Columbus: sailorChristopher Columbus: sailorChristopher Columbus: sailorOrigin/Sponsor Country: Spain

Goal/Motive: to find riches; to find a route to Asia

What did he discover? Sailed to the islands what he thought were the West Indies (islands off of east coast of America) trying to reach Asia; he died thinking he had reached the West Indies of Asia; introduced new crops to Spain (maize, peanuts, potatoes, tomatoes and cacao (Columbian Exchange)

Obstacles: no maps, strong winds and storms; frightened crew

Other: Was friendly with Natives at first, but eventually mistreated them by capturing them and taking them back to Spain as slaves; sailed with 90 men and 3 ships named the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria;

Henry Hudson: sailorHenry Hudson: sailorHenry Hudson: sailorHenry Hudson: sailorSponsor Countries: 1st voyage: Holland (hired by a Dutch trading company); 2nd

voyage: England

Purpose/Goal/Motive: to find a northwest route to Asia (across the top of Europe, near the Arctic Circle)

Regions Explored/Results of Exploration: claimed lands for Holland and England1st Exploration: Sailed up a river in present-day New York that he thought was a large body of water that would lead north through the continent. Late realized that it was only a river (later become known as the Hudson River)2nd Exploration: Sailed further north into Hudson Bay (Canada) area; Both the Hudson River and the Hudson Bay were named after him; created maps of both areas for future use

Obstacles: ice and cold climate, strong storms, no maps, rebellious crew angry over cold temperatures (eventually sent him off to sea in a small boat with eight others and no food); often fought with natives, but traded with them at times, too.

Other: hunted for fur; sent off on a boat by angry crew

Hudson’s Route of Explorations

Jacques Cartier: sailorJacques Cartier: sailorJacques Cartier: sailorJacques Cartier: sailorOrigin/Sponsor Country: France

Purpose/Goal/Motive: find riches/gold and a Northwest Passage/water route to Asia through the continent of North America; wanted to discover what he could of the “New World”;

Region Explored/Results of Exploration: St. Lawrence River (on the first trip, he thought that the Gulf of St. Lawrence was a bay, but discovered that it was actually the mouth of a very large river) He hoped this was a water route to Asia that would lead him through the continent of North America; claimed lands for France; started a settlement that failed

Obstacles: diseases; limited maps; Native Americans (were friendly at first, but when they realized the French were coming to stay, became hostile and fought with the explorers/settlers).