The AmericasThe Americas

Part 1Part 1Exploration of the Exploration of the

AmericasAmericas

There are many theories There are many theories about how early Americans about how early Americans

arrived here.arrived here.

Early AmericansEarly AmericansAlaska, in the extreme northwest

corner of North America, is separated from Russia by the Bering Strait, a narrow body of water that connects

the Arctic and Pacific Oceans.

During the last Ice Age, it is believed the ocean level was lower, exposing a

land bridge between Russia and Alaska. People from Asia likely

crossed the bridge while hunting animals for food.

Did some early

Americans cross a

land bridge

from Asia to North

America? It is a

possibility.

In Viking legends from northern Europe, written in the 12th century and later, it is told that Eric the Red, a Viking, explored the southeast and

southwest coasts of Greenland in 983-986 A. D. He had been banned from

Iceland on a charge of manslaughter. He gave the land its name because people would be more likely to go there if it had an attractive name.

Greenland was warmer in the tenth century than it is now. There were many islands teeming with birds off

its western coast; the sea was excellent for fishing; and the coast of Greenland itself had many FJORDS where anchorage was good. At the

head of the fjords there were enormous meadows full of grass, willows, junipers, birch, and wild berries. Thus Greenland actually

deserved its name.

A fjord A fjord in in

GreenlanGreenlandd

Hiking in modern-day Hiking in modern-day GreenlandGreenland

The VikingsThe Vikings About 1000 A.D., Eric the Red’s son, Leif About 1000 A.D., Eric the Red’s son, Leif

explored the east coast of North America, explored the east coast of North America, and called the area “Vinland”, which is and called the area “Vinland”, which is probably the current Canadian province of probably the current Canadian province of Newfoundland.Newfoundland.

Vinland, and other Viking settlements did Vinland, and other Viking settlements did not last long, mainly because of bad not last long, mainly because of bad relations with natives.relations with natives.

Evidence of Viking settlements was Evidence of Viking settlements was discovered in the 1960s.discovered in the 1960s.

Some archaeologists think Vinland may be the excavated site L’Anse aux

Meadows.

L’Anse aux Meadows—Meadow L’Anse aux Meadows—Meadow CoveCove

After the settlements After the settlements were abandoned, it was were abandoned, it was nearly 500 years before nearly 500 years before Europeans showed up Europeans showed up

again and explored this again and explored this area of the world.area of the world.

With Italians in firm control of With Italians in firm control of Mediterranean trade in the 1400s, Mediterranean trade in the 1400s,

Europeans began to search for Europeans began to search for other trade routes.other trade routes.

Portugal, located on the southwest edge of Europe, Portugal, located on the southwest edge of Europe, turned to the sea, and its use of a ship known as a turned to the sea, and its use of a ship known as a CARAVELCARAVEL, to try and find a route around Africa., to try and find a route around Africa.

Portuguese explorers made it to the Portuguese explorers made it to the bottom of Africa in the 1480s, and all bottom of Africa in the 1480s, and all

the way to India by the 1490s.the way to India by the 1490s.

An Italian explorer named Christopher Columbus

proposed sailing west, into the Atlantic Ocean, in order to reach Asia.

Although much of the educated world Although much of the educated world accepted the idea that the earth was accepted the idea that the earth was round, there were some who feared round, there were some who feared venturing far from land in case they venturing far from land in case they

fell off, or were attacked by sea fell off, or were attacked by sea monsters.monsters.

Columbus had Columbus had approached Portugal approached Portugal with his idea, but with his idea, but they thought it was they thought it was impractical, and impractical, and chose to focus on chose to focus on their African route.their African route.

Both Genoa and Both Genoa and Venice were also not Venice were also not interested in his interested in his plan.plan.

He approached the He approached the Spanish monarchy, Spanish monarchy, but was originally but was originally rejected.rejected.

However, he was However, he was called back by the called back by the Spanish royalty, Spanish royalty, and he eventually and he eventually achieved financing achieved financing for his adventure.for his adventure.

1890s replicas of 1890s replicas of the the NinaNina, , PintaPinta, and the , and the Santa Santa

MariaMaria

The First Voyage of Columbus The First Voyage of Columbus 14921492

News of Columbus’ successful journey News of Columbus’ successful journey spread rapidly throughout Europe.spread rapidly throughout Europe.

Mistakenly believing he was in Asia, Mistakenly believing he was in Asia, he referred to the natives as “Indians”.he referred to the natives as “Indians”.

He made a total of four voyages to this He made a total of four voyages to this “New World”, as some called it.“New World”, as some called it.

Note: HE NEVER TOUCHED WHAT Note: HE NEVER TOUCHED WHAT IS NOW THE MAINLAND U. S.!!!IS NOW THE MAINLAND U. S.!!!

The Second Voyage of The Second Voyage of Columbus Columbus

14931493

The Third Voyage of ColumbusThe Third Voyage of Columbus14981498

The Fourth Voyage of The Fourth Voyage of ColumbusColumbus

15021502

Columbus died in 1506, still believing that he had made it to Asia. In

history, he is famous for making the journey, and then having so many

other Europeans come after he did. Some Native Americans do not look

on him fondly, because of all the changes that took place in the “New World” after his journeys. Despite

your opinion of him, he made a huge impact on history.

The Columbian Exchange The Columbian Exchange --

products, animals, and diseases that were products, animals, and diseases that were “exchanged” between the “Old” and “New” “exchanged” between the “Old” and “New”

Worlds.Worlds.

Why America?Why America?After the voyages of Columbus, other Europeans followed. One, an Italian named Amerigo Vespucci, is given

credit for claiming that the continents of North and South America were

separate landmasses, and not part of Asia. In 1507, a German mapmaker, Martin Waldseemuller, made a world

map, and labeled the new land “America”. The name stuck.

In the late 1400s and In the late 1400s and early 1500s, Europeans early 1500s, Europeans began searching for a began searching for a

waterway through North waterway through North America, that would get America, that would get

them to Asia. This them to Asia. This hoped-for waterway was hoped-for waterway was

nicknamed:nicknamed: “The Northwest “The Northwest

Passage”.Passage”.

The The Current Current

“Northwes“Northwest Passage”t Passage”

A ship didn’t actually find a “Northwest A ship didn’t actually find a “Northwest Passage” until the 20Passage” until the 20thth century. It is a century. It is a

hard trip because of the weather hard trip because of the weather conditions and icy water of the Arctic. conditions and icy water of the Arctic. Here are some of the early explorers Here are some of the early explorers

who originally tried to find it.who originally tried to find it.

John CabotJohn CabotAn Italian explorer An Italian explorer whose English name whose English name was John Cabot was John Cabot sailed along the sailed along the eastern coast of eastern coast of North America in North America in 1497, and was 1497, and was probably the first probably the first European to land European to land there since the there since the Vikings.Vikings.

Henry Henry HudsonHudson

Hudson was English, but Hudson was English, but worked for the Dutch as worked for the Dutch as well. He also was looking well. He also was looking for a Northwest Passage for a Northwest Passage and explored the east and explored the east coast of North America, coast of North America, including where modern-including where modern-day New York City is day New York City is located. While exploring located. While exploring what is now the Hudson what is now the Hudson Bay in Canada, his crew Bay in Canada, his crew mutinied, and left mutinied, and left Hudson, his teenage son Hudson, his teenage son and 8 crewmen adrift. and 8 crewmen adrift.

Henry Hudson set adrift by his mutinous crew. He was never

heard from again.

Jacques Jacques CartierCartier Cartier was a Cartier was a

Frenchman who Frenchman who explored the St. explored the St.

Lawrence River and Lawrence River and claimed the land for claimed the land for France in the 1530s. France in the 1530s.

He helped give Canada He helped give Canada its current name by its current name by

using the native term using the native term “kanata” which meant “kanata” which meant

village. He called village. He called some of the natives some of the natives

“Canadiens”.“Canadiens”.

The voyages of Jacques The voyages of Jacques Cartier and his men helped Cartier and his men helped

stake France’s claim to stake France’s claim to territory in the New World.territory in the New World.

Samuel de Samuel de ChamplainChamplain

He explored what is He explored what is now Quebec and the now Quebec and the Great Lakes area. Great Lakes area. He was determined He was determined to have a French to have a French colony in America, colony in America, and is considered and is considered the father of “New the father of “New France”.France”.

Further to the South, Spain continued Further to the South, Spain continued its explorations, and even Portugal its explorations, and even Portugal

got in on the action. got in on the action.

Both Spain and Portugal were Both Spain and Portugal were Catholic countries. Not wanting Catholic countries. Not wanting

them to fight, the pope created an them to fight, the pope created an imaginary line, giving Portugal the imaginary line, giving Portugal the

riches of Africa, and Spain the riches riches of Africa, and Spain the riches of the “New World” Columbus had of the “New World” Columbus had bumped into. bumped into. Nobody knew how Nobody knew how

big the region really wasbig the region really was..

The Pope divided new land between The Pope divided new land between Spain and Portugal without knowing Spain and Portugal without knowing

how far Brazil juts out into the how far Brazil juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. That is why Atlantic Ocean. That is why

Portuguese is the dominant language Portuguese is the dominant language there.there.

Around the year 1500, a Portuguese explorer Around the year 1500, a Portuguese explorer by the name of by the name of CabralCabral was supposed to go was supposed to go around Africa. However, possibly by around Africa. However, possibly by accident, or perhaps being blown off course, accident, or perhaps being blown off course, he landed on Brazil’s east coast. he landed on Brazil’s east coast.

Eventually other Catholic Christian countries Eventually other Catholic Christian countries like France didn’t pay too much attention to like France didn’t pay too much attention to this line, and Protestant Christian countries this line, and Protestant Christian countries like England and Holland ignored it as well. like England and Holland ignored it as well. However, it took awhile for those countries However, it took awhile for those countries to catch up to Spain and Portugal in claiming to catch up to Spain and Portugal in claiming the riches of this “New World”.the riches of this “New World”.

Like the English, French, Italians, and Like the English, French, Italians, and Dutch who explored in the North, many Dutch who explored in the North, many

explorers working for Spain explored the explorers working for Spain explored the “New World” further to the South. Some “New World” further to the South. Some

famous ones include:famous ones include: Vasco Nunez de Balboa – Crossed the Isthmus of Vasco Nunez de Balboa – Crossed the Isthmus of

PanamaPanama Juan Ponce de Leon – Explored Florida searching for Juan Ponce de Leon – Explored Florida searching for

the “Fountain of Youth”the “Fountain of Youth” Hernando de Soto – Explored much of the southeastern Hernando de Soto – Explored much of the southeastern

United StatesUnited States Francisco Vasquez de Coronado – Searched much of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado – Searched much of

the American Southwest looking for the “7 Cities of the American Southwest looking for the “7 Cities of Gold”Gold”

Ferdinand Magellan – His crew was the first to circle Ferdinand Magellan – His crew was the first to circle the Earththe Earth

Vasco Vasco Nunez de Nunez de BalboaBalboa

In 1513, Balboa became the first European to

see the eastern edge of the Pacific Ocean,

which he claimed for Spain.

Juan Juan Ponce Ponce

de Leon de Leon – –

SearcheSearched for the d for the FountaiFountai

n of n of YouthYouth

The Fountain of Youth?

Hernando de Soto – Hernando de Soto – The first European to see and The first European to see and explore the Mississippi Riverexplore the Mississippi River

Francisco Vazquez de Coronado – Francisco Vazquez de Coronado – Led an expedition through what is Led an expedition through what is now the Southwest U. S., looking now the Southwest U. S., looking for the mythical “Seven Cities of for the mythical “Seven Cities of

Gold”.Gold”.

Ferdinand Ferdinand MagellanMagellan

A Portuguese explorer working

for Spain, he led an expedition of 237

men on five ships. When the

expedition made it back to Spain three years later, there were only 18 men

left, on one ship. It was the first

expedition to make it all the way

around the globe.