E X P L O R AT I O N A N D C O L O N I Z AT I O N

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Why did Europeans explore the world’s oceans and

colonize the Americas?

What ESP…(LOL) economic, social (religious), and

political reasons lead to the establishment of the first

thirteen colonies?

Which historical documents and colonial practices

contributed to the growth of representative

government?

REASONS FOR EUROPEAN EXPLORATION

Find Europe on a map. Stand up as soon as

your have your thumb on it! Show the class.

Turn to your shoulder partner and see what

they know about Marco Polo. Be prepared to

share your combined knowledge.

EUROPE EXPLORES THE NEW WORLD

Europeans loved spices and silk. They

wanted to find another way to get to

China, and India, and other islands in

East Asia.

For years they had to cross the very

dangerous Middle East or go around

the very big continent of Africa.

THE SILK ROAD

LONG AND DANGEROUS ROAD

East Indies

REASONS FOR EUROPEAN EXPLORATION

Advances in technology

Powerful rulers established power over

unruly nobles.

Desire to get rich rich rich!

Religious enthusiasm

SOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in

________!

He was able to get financing for his journey from

_______.

He first found land when he saw the Caribbean

islands. He really thought he had landed in India and

called these islands the West Indies.

He even called the natives ______.

THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE

The Columbian Exchange was one of the most significant events

in world history. There were many new things in this new land

that Europeans had never had before like corn, potatoes,

tomatoes, chocolate, guinea pigs, llamas, and tobacco. (Look at

the map on page 44.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNHivduxQWg

Europeans brought things like horses, cows, pigs, guns,

Christianity, government structures, and unfortunately diseases

the natives had no immunities to.

APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED:

What ESP motivated Europeans to explore the

ocean blue? Economic Social

(Religious)Political

COLONIZATION

It didn’t take long for the European powers to realize these new

lands were rich in gold and other natural resources. They started

claiming land for themselves and created colonies so they could

make profits off of the natural resources. A new economic system

called mercantilism was developed. Under this system, the

natural resources of a colony had to be sent to the “mother

country” where the resources were turned into products and

then sold back to the colonies. The “mother countries” got rich

rich rich! FYI: The people living in the colonies began to resent

this system.

EUROPEAN COLONIAL EMPIRES

New Spain: Spanish conquistadors (soldiers) conquered the

Aztecs of Mexico and the Incas of Peru. (Look at the map on page

46.) Soon many Spaniards moved there and took large tracts of land

called encomiendas for mining, ranching, and farming. They tried to

use the natives as laborers, but the natives did not respond well to

the very hard labor. So, captured Africans were brought over to

work as slaves.

The Spanish were Catholic, so they also converted the natives and

taught them the ways of the Catholic Church.

EUROPEAN COLONIAL EMPIRES

New France: The French also wanted to get rich

rich rich. They settled in Canada along the St

Lawrence River, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River

down to New Orleans. Mostly French men came to

the new world and many married native women.

They set up small towns and trading posts. The

primary source of wealth for them was the fur trade.

The French got along pretty well with the Indians

and also converted many to Catholicism.

EUROPEAN COLONIAL EMPIRES

New Netherland: Dutch merchants (business men) hired

Henry Hudson to try and find a Northwest Passage to Asia. (Look

for the Hudson Bay on page 46.) These merchants bought furs and

other goods from the natives and French.

Hudson explored the northern waterways, and the Dutch

claimed the New York area for themselves. Dutch families settled

in what is now upper state New York. They welcomed people from

other countries and were tolerant of other religions. They also

brought enslaved Africans to their colony.

APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED:

Which European countries established colonies?

Where did they settle?

What were their economies?

What was their relationship with the natives?

Country Where Economy Relationship