How Europeans discovered and explored the Americas
In the 1400s-1500s, European countries sent explorers across the oceans. They had several motivations, often called the "Three G's":
Several inventions helped sailors travel farther:
Europeans wanted spices, silk, and other goods from Asia. The land route was long and controlled by Middle Eastern traders. Europeans hoped to find a water route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean.
From: Genoa, Italy
Sailed for: Spain (King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella)
Columbus believed he could reach Asia by sailing west. He convinced Spain's monarchs to fund his voyage.
Columbus sets sail from Spain with three ships: the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María
Land sighted! Columbus reaches an island in the Bahamas (he called it San Salvador)
Second voyage: Columbus explores more Caribbean islands and establishes colonies
Third voyage: Columbus reaches South America (Venezuela)
Fourth voyage: Columbus explores Central America
Columbus did NOT discover America! Native Americans had lived there for thousands of years. Also, Vikings led by Leif Erikson had reached North America around 1000 CE, 500 years before Columbus.
Columbus never realized he had reached a continent unknown to Europeans. He died believing he had found a route to Asia!
After Columbus's voyages, an exchange of people, plants, animals, and diseases began between Europe and the Americas. This is called the Columbian Exchange.
From the Americas to Europe:
From Europe to the Americas:
European diseases devastated Native American populations. Historians estimate that diseases killed 90% or more of Native Americans in some areas. This was the most catastrophic result of European contact.
Spanish soldiers called conquistadors (conquerors) explored and conquered large parts of the Americas, seeking gold and glory.
Conquered: The Aztec Empire in Mexico (1519-1521)
With about 600 soldiers, Cortés conquered the powerful Aztec Empire. How?
Conquered: The Inca Empire in Peru (1532-1533)
Pizarro captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa and conquered one of the largest empires in the Americas. The Spanish took vast amounts of gold and silver from the Incas.
Spain built a huge empire in the Americas:
Italian explorer sailing for England. Explored the coast of North America (probably Newfoundland, Canada). England used his voyage to claim land in North America.
Explored the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Claimed land for France and searched for a Northwest Passage to Asia.
Founded Quebec, the first permanent French settlement in Canada. Called the "Father of New France." Established good relations with Native Americans, especially for the fur trade.
English explorer hired by the Dutch. Explored the Hudson River in New York. The Dutch claimed this land and called it New Netherland.
Many explorers searched for a Northwest Passage - a water route through North America to Asia. This passage doesn't exist in a practical sense, though explorers didn't know that. The search led to much exploration of North America's northern regions.