The Vikings• They were the first

real European explorers.

• They used a method known as island hopping.

• They sailed to Iceland, then to Greenland, then to North America. (Canada Today)

Leif Eriksson• He was the first to

reach North America by accident.

• The vikings established a colony in North America known as Vinland.

• This colony was eventually abandoned.

Europeans Look to Expand Empires

PortugalSpainItaly

Prince Henry the Navigator

• In the 1400s Portugal will become a leader in exploration.

• He founded a school of Navigation.

• He like most Europeans wanted Asian Spices.

Reasons

• They wanted Asian Spices.• Convert people to ChristianityChristianity• He wanted Portugal to become a world

power.

Technology assists Exploration

• The Magnetic The Magnetic CompassCompass

• AstrolabeAstrolabe – Allows you to navigate using the stars.

• Caravels – Caravels – They used triangular sails to sail against the winds.

Portugal’s Explorations

• Bartolomeu Dias – He sailed around the southern tip of Africa, known as the Cape of Good Hope.

• Vasco da GamaVasco da Gama – He sailed around Africa and was the first to reach India by Sea.

Christopher Columbus• He believes the shortest

distance to Asia is to sail westwest instead of east.

• Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain sponsor his trip west. (Pay for it)

• October 12, 1492 Columbus finds land.

• IT IS NOT ASIA!!!! Columbus has run into the Western Hemisphere

Columbian Exchange

• This was the transfer (trading) of items This was the transfer (trading) of items between the two worlds.between the two worlds. Plants and animals from the Americas to Europe, Asia and Africa.

• Corn, Potatoes, Tobacco and Cocoa.

Other Explorers• Balboa will sail to Central

America and discover the Pacific Ocean

• VespucciVespucci will come to the conclusion that Columbus discovered a new continent. (Later to be named the AmericasAmericas)

The Spanish Conquistadors• Spain sets out to establish

an empire in the Americas.

• CortesCortes will conquer the Aztecs.Aztecs.

• PizarroPizarro will conquer the IncasIncas.

• This establishes Spain as a world power.

MagellanMagellan Because He was Gell’in

• He and his crew will circumnavigatecircumnavigate (go around) the globe.

The Spanish colonize The New World (Led by the Catholic Church)• PlantationsPlantations (agriculture) are established.

• The Native Americans are forced to work on the plantations. (Slavery)

• Bartolome de Las CasasBartolome de Las Casas tries to get better treatment for the Native population.

The Race for Empires• Many nations wanted a

piece of the pie in the New World. There was money to be made!

• This will lead to conflictconflict

• Spain vs. England• King Phillip IIKing Phillip II will send

the Spanish Armanda (Navy) to destroy Queen Queen Elizabeth and England!Elizabeth and England!

• The armada is destroyed, ending Spain’s control of the New World.

• The race is on to claim The race is on to claim land in the New World.land in the New World.

The Northwest Passage and Claims in North America

• The Northwest PassageThe Northwest Passage is a water route through North America that would allow ships to sail through North America and enter the Pacific.

• John Cabot-John Cabot- Will sail for EnglandEngland and claiming land for England.

• Jacques CartierJacques Cartier – Will sail for France and claim land for France.

Slavery in the Americas

• This started with the Native AmericansNative Americans. However, they were not immune to European disease.

• PlantationsPlantations (Large Farms)- Required a huge labor force (Workers).

• Africans were the next choice to supply the labor.

The Middle Passage & The Slave Trade

• The Middle PassageThe Middle Passage – This was the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean that enslaved Africans were forced to endure.

• This lead to African DiasporaAfrican Diaspora, which is the scattering of a people, Africans were sent all across the New World.