The Age of Exploration

Discover the Age of Exploration! Learn about new worlds, trade, and lasting impacts.

Introduction to the Age of Exploration The Age of Exploration, or Age of Discovery, is one of the most important events in the history of the western world. It began in the late-1400s and continued until the end of the 1600s, and involved European explorers using their navigational skills to travel the world. In general, the Age of Exploration occurred for several different reasons, particularly in the countries of Spain, France, and England.The following video clips, readings, and charts will help you further understand the Age of Exploration and the beginnings of colonization in North America. Reasons for Exploration Colonization of North America Watch the video clip (4:30 minutes). When you are finished, answer the questions below. Who did Europeans trade with before the Age of Exploration? Asia Australia Africa They didn't trade Which three (3) countries were exploring in search of new land (power) during the Age of Exploration? (Select all 3) England India China Spain France Germany Which of the following is NOT one of the motivations for European exploration on North America? Religion Economics Competition Fear of the Unknown The Columbian Exchange Which is NOT a food item that Europeans brought to North America? Olives Peaches Potatoes Grains Which animal is native to North America? (It existed in North America first.) Cow Pig Horse Turkey True or False: Europe had corn before the Age of Exploration. True False Uh . . . True or False: North America had pineapples before the Age of Exploration. True False Uh . . . Which group infected the other group with diseases? The Europeans brought diseases to North America. The American Indians infected the Europeans. Neither Smallpox Based on the text document above, what was life like for the Native Americans BEFORE the Europeans came to America? The Native Americans were unhappy. The Native Americans were sick a lot. The Native Americans were pretty healthy. The Native Americans ate a lot of ham. Based on the image and text document above, what was life like for the Native Americans AFTER the Europeans came? The Native Ameircans got sick and many died. The Native Americans made the Europeans sick. The Native Americans were pretty healthy. The Native Americans drank a lot of coffee. Population Graph Based on the line graph, what happened to the Native American population during the years of European exploration? It increased It decreased It stayed the same It decreased, then increased. What is the difference in population of the Native Americans from 1518 to 1593 (estimated)? 1 million 5 million 10 million 20+ million What caused the Native American population to decrease in the 1500s? Poor Maps Disease New Crops Poor weather Beginnings of the Slave Trade Introduction: The origins (beginnings) of the African Slave Trade can be traced back to the Age of Exploration in the 1400s. Europeans had become quite addicted to the luxuries of the exotic spices, silks, and porcelain that could only be found in Asia. Unfortunately for the Europeans, Muslim traders had a complete monopoly (control) over the trade routes to the Far East (Asia). Europeans started to explore water routes that would enable (allow) them to get around the Muslims, and trade in Aisa. The Portuguese took the lead in that exploration and sent voyages down the west coast of Africa in hopes of finding a new route to Asia. On these voyages, they found a new type of good to trade --human beings. Over time, between 10 and 28 million people were taken from Africa and sold into slavery. Roughly 12 million of those were taken to the Americas and enslaved on plantations producing: cotton, sugar, tobacco, molasses, and rum. Graph: The Slave Trade What does this graph tell you about the relationship between Europe and Africa during this time? Europeans from several countries forced millions of Africans into slavery Europeans were not involved in the African slave trade Only a couple of European countires participated in the African slave trade Thousands of Africans were involved in the slave trade with Asia Which European country was the most invlolved in the African slave trade? England France Spain Portugal Graph: Slave Trade Routes Where were most enslaved people being taken? United States Europe Brazil Jamaica Positive or Negative Impacts of the Age of Exploration Put each fact into the right category. There should be three in each category. Positive Impacts 😀 Europeans got to experience lots of new foods from North America North Americans got to experience lots of new foods (including meats) from Europe Europeans gained lots of new land in North America Negative Impacts 😥 Europeans brought diseases with them to North America, and those diseases killed millions of North Americans Europeans began to force Africans into the slave trade on many continents Native Americans lost their homelands to the conquering Europeans Which group of people had the best experience from the Age of Exploration? North Americans Europeans Africans