European ExplorationSOL USI.4a

Sarah Duncan

Social Studies Instructional Specialist

Portsmouth Public Schools

Exploration

•The Motivating Forces for Exploration

•The Obstacles to Exploration•The Accomplishments of

Exploration

Why did the Europeans want to explore:

To find Gold, Natural Resources and Trade Routes

Why did the Europeans want to explore?

To spread their religion--Christianity

Why did the Europeans want to explore?

They wanted to help make their empire/country the BEST or superior

ANDThey believed in the superiority of

their own culture.

Obstacles to Exploration:Bad/Poor Maps

(Early explorers thought the world was flat. They didn’t know that North or South America were

here)

Bad/Poor Navigational Tools(If they would have had better tools, they would’ve

known about North and South America)

Obstacles to Exploration

Fear of the Unknown(early sea travelers thought there were sea

monsters like the Loch Ness Monster)

Lack of adequate supplies(They didn’t pack enough food or water for

the trip. Many men starved to death and Others ate rats to survive.)

Accomplishments of Exploration

Exchanged goods and ideas (food, clothing, new trade

partners)Improved navigational tools

and shipsClaimed Territories

Regions of North America explored by Spain

• Francisco Coronado claimed the southwest United States for Spain.

Regions of North America explored by France

• Samuel de Champlain established the French settlement of Quebec.

• Robert La Salle claimed the Mississippi River Valley.

Quebec

Regions of North America explored by England

• John Cabot explored eastern Canada for England.

Notice the St. Lawrence River!

Regions explored by Portugal

• The Portuguese made voyages of discovery along West Africa.