European Exploration&

Colonial America

Ashley Ritz

The Age of ExplorationEuropean Exploration started for many

reasons. All of these explorers were sponsored by their own countries or some by others. Explorers started exploring for reasons like:1. wanting to find gold and other treasure2. expanding their countries empire 3. finding new trade routes to Asia for

spices and trading.

Reasons for Exploring

Many explorers started exploring for riches and gold to bring back to their countries. Many countries had fought a lot of wars and were poor from the expenses that the war had cost them, so many countries had hope that exploration would bring them gold and riches.

Reas

ons

for E

xplo

ring Even though countries like Spain and

France were already well off with land they wanted more. A second reason for exploring was to expand empires. This reason caused many problems later on in Colonial America and settling land battles. Major countries like France and Spain went head to head to gain more land in the New World.

Reasons for Exploring

One of the major reasons for exploration was to find alternate trade routes to China. It was a very long journey to get to China and explorers wanted to find a shorter route to where all the spices were. Unlike Asia where spices grew abundantly Europe did not have this convenience. If the explorers could find a trade route to Asia this would make countries very rich since finding spices were so rare in Europe. Many explorers like Marco Polo found easier trade routes to Asia and became wealthy merchants.

European Exploration Sir Francis Drake was

from England and sailed around the world.

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was from Spain and wanted to conquer the “Seven Cities of Gold” and

explored New Mexico and parts of

Southwestern North America.

Christopher Columbus was from Italy but sailed

for Spain and made 4 voyages of exploration and

founded North America.

European Exploration

Hernando Cortes was from Spain and caused the

fall of the Aztec Empire.

Jacques Cartier claimed Canada for his homeland

France.

Samuel de Champlain was from France and

founded Quebec City and noted as the “Father of

New France”

European Exploration Vasco da Gama was

from Portugal and

commanded the first

ships from Europe to

India

Ferdinand Magellan was from Portugal and

explored the Philippines and found

the Straight of Magellan

Marco Polo was from Italy and was a

merchant who journeyed to Asia and

traveled the Silk Road