Europe's Exploration of the Americas

Europe's Exploration of the Americas

Discovering the New World 1001-1522 CE Grade 8 History

The First Europeans: Viking Exploration

Around 1001 CE, Vikings reached North America Seagoing people from Scandinavia Briefly settled in Newfoundland 500 years before Columbus!

Think About It

Why do you think the Viking exploration didn't lead to permanent European settlement in the Americas?

Christopher Columbus: The Accidental Discovery

Italian sea captain hired by Spain Goal: Find western route to East Indies for gold October 12, 1492: First sighting of land Called native people 'Indians' - thought he reached Asia

Columbus's Voyages: Success and Failure

{"left":"Brought back: tobacco, pink pearls, pineapples, hammocks\nMade governor of Spanish territories\nFounded first Spanish colony (1493)","right":"Harsh ruler - sent back to Spain in chains\nDied in 1506 still believing he reached Asia\nChanged the Americas forever"}

The Search for Asia Continues

Explorers still sought western route to Asia 1513: Vasco Núñez de Balboa sees Pacific Ocean First European to view Pacific from the Americas Realized the Americas were blocking the route to Asia

Magellan's Epic Journey: First Around the World

The Columbian Exchange

'A transfer of people, products, and ideas between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres'

Positive and Negative Exchanges

{"left":"Europeans brought: oranges, figs, dandelions, pigs, cattle\nAmericas gave: potatoes, corn, tomatoes (nearly half of world's food supply!)","right":"Negative impact: diseases killed millions of Native Americans\nNative Americans had no immunity to European diseases"}

Exploration Impact Assessment

Create a timeline showing: Viking exploration (1001), Columbus's first voyage (1492), Balboa sees Pacific (1513), Magellan's circumnavigation (1519-1522) For each event, write one positive and one negative consequence