Exploration and Colonization

By Stuart Morse

Georgia Performance Standard

• SS6H6 The student will analyze the impact of European exploration and colonization on various world regions.

a. Identify the causes of European exploration and colonization; include religion, natural resources, a market for goods, and the contributions of Prince Henry the Navigator. 

10/26 OpeningComplete these questions on your notebook paper.

1. What drives humans to continue to explore new areas?

2. What are some benefits of exploring new areas?

3. What are some dangers of exploring new areas?

SS6H6 a. Identify the causes of European exploration and colonization; include religion, natural resources, a market for goods, and the contributions of Prince Henry the Navigator

Enduring UnderstandingMovement/Migration: movement and migration of people and ideas affect all

societies involved

Essential Question: - What factors, including the contributions of Prince Henry the Navigator, influenced European nations to begin overseas exploration?

Silk Road

Polo Explores The Silk Road • In 1274, Italian explorers Marco and Niccolo Polo set out on a 24 year

journey in which they traveled the famous Silk Road from Italy, through brutal deserts and towering mountains to eastern China. They traveled over 4,000 miles in all. Marco and Niccolo were among the very first Europeans to explore the fabled empire of China. In China, Marco Polo even worked for ruler Kublai Khan. Polo detailed his experiences and findings in China by writing a book. Polo described materials and inventions never before seen in Europe. Paper money, a printing press, porcelain, gunpowder and coal were among the products he wrote about. He also described the vast wealth of Kublai Khan, as well as the geography of northern and southern China. European rulers were very interested in the products Polo described. However, trading for them along the Silk Road was dangerous, expensive and impractical. European rulers began to wonder if there was a sea route to the east to get the products they wanted at a reasonable price.

TED video on The Silk Road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn3e37VWc0k• ***IF you go to the link in the about section, it will take

you to a video quiz.

Old Trade Routes

• One of the biggest reasons for European exploration is the fact that they were trying to find alternative trade routes because goods brought over land from China and India were expensive.

• Italians and Muslims dominated the existing trade routes and they were able to make all the profits from the trades.

• Italians controlled the roads in Europe and the Mediterranean

• Muslims controlled the overland routes from Asia (Silk Road).

There were many reasons for the exploration of the world by the Europeans starting in the 1400’s… As a group,

• read your given reason for exploration•Discuss it & take some notes for a very short presentation of this reason to your classmates…•Why do you think this would be necessary for the Europeans to possess/ have?

Some of the reasons are:

To find a sea route to the spices of Asia

- As spices, silks, and other luxury goods from Middle East and Asia became more popular and desirable, the prices began to go up. This was because the people who controlled the trade routes knew they could charge more money and the Europeans would PAY!!!! These goods were like the Wii, everyone wanted them and would pay BIG BUCKS! Europeans wanted a part of the pie

Reasons for Exploration

To find gold, silver, and precious stones

- After coming back from The Crusades, Europeans were dazzled by the treasures they saw in the Middle East and in Asia. The possibility of them finding a way to obtain these items for themselves was alluring. So, when they did find these items in places such as the Americas, they saw an opportunity to gain these riches by colonizing the lands they found.

Reasons for Exploration

To expand their knowledge of the world - Once Europeans found these new areas and

found new routes, they wanted to explore more of the world to see what else is out there. They also wanted to see what else they could get their hands on that might be valuable.

To expand the Christian religion - European Christians saw an opportunity

spread Christianity to newly discovered regions of the world. Missionaries accompanied explorers on their voyages in order to convert conquered peoples. This was another opportunity for Europeans to gain control of indigenous (native) people and their resources.

Reasons for Exploration

To build and control larger empires

- Countries such as Portugal, Spain, England, and France began colonizing the regions they explored. The conquered people supplied these European countries with cheap labor to harvest the raw materials. Controlling more areas and people = more power and $.

Reasons for Exploration

To find natural resources for their newly created factories.

- The colonies they created gave Europe control over natural resources This meant that Europe could make goods for less money and would not have to import these goods from other countries.

To open up new markets for their newly created products

- Europe was able to sell these cheap goods to their own colonies and to other countries. They expanded their ability to make money from only selling to their own country to selling goods to several other parts of the world.

European Exploration• Europeans wanted to explore to

new areas in the world because they wanted to spread their branch of Christianity.

• Europeans wanted to spread or achieve glory by concerning new areas.

• Europeans wanted to receive the riches of the land from new areas to trade and become wealthy.

G G G

Complete this handout over

the content you have learned

today.

Prince Henry The Navigator• Prince Henry the Navigator was the

governor of Portugal’s southernmost coasts. He sent more than fifty expeditions down the west coast of Africa. Henry wanted to establish colonies and break the Muslim hold on trade routes.

• Henry studied navigation and mapmaking. He established a university at Sagres, Portugal. Students there learned navigation, astronomy, and mapmaking.

• video of why Portugal was the leader in exploration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcdO0QTmxIU

Compare

Test Your Knowledge

• 1. In the 1400s, this man helped Portugal take an early lead in exploration by providing money to study navigation, develop better boats, and encourage voyages along the coast of Africa. Who was he?

A. Christopher ColumbusB. Francisco PizarroC. James CookD. Prince Henry

Test Your Knowledge

• 2. Why did Prince Henry the Navigator want to send ships south to Africa?A. He hoped to learn more about marine life.B. He wanted to prove the world was not flat.C. He felt his father, the king, would be proud.D. He wanted a route around Africa to the Asian markets.

Test Your Knowledge

• 3. Which religion did Prince Henry the Navigator hope to spread?

A. HinduismB. BuddhismC. ChristianityD. Islam

Test Your Knowledge

• 4. Which was not a reason for the establishment of European overseas colonies?

A. Europeans wanted to spread Christianity to other people.B. Europeans were interested in learning from other

cultures.C. Europeans thought that colonies would buy European

products.D. European industry needed more sources of raw

materials.