How did Europeans get here anyway?

Europe Explores the New World

Marco Polo

• Venetian merchant (store owner from Venice, Italy) who traveled through Asia

• Introduced Europeans to awesome things in Asia: Spices, teas, porcelain and COTTON and SILK

Why Sail West?• European merchants wanted to find a

new sea route to Asia.

New technology allowed European sailors to sail further than ever before. (No longer had to hug the coastline)

Prince Henry the Navigator,Encouraged European exploration to other countries.

Christopher Columbus

• Italian sailor who thought he could get to Asia by sailing West.

• Spain paid for his trip• Accidentally

discovered the Americas.

Columbian Exchange• The exchange of plants, animals, and diseases

between the Eastern and Western hemispheres.