THE AGE OF
EXPLORATION:
Parents,
We are currently reviewing the European explorers
Columbus, Cabot, Balboa, Ponce de Leon, Cartier and
Hudson. We have read newspaper articles, comprehension
passages and textbooks about the explorers and are now
focusing on summarizing the information using graphic
organizers. The graphic organizers will be used to write
summary paragraphs about each explorer. Please DO NOT
have your child write the paragraphs at home, as we will
be focusing on this in the classroom.
•Pictures courtesy the Library of Congress
•Letter excerpts and eyewitness accounts courtesy Wisconsin Historical Society’s
American Journeys
John Cabot: merchant
Country of Origin : Italy
Sponsor Country: England
Purpose/Goal/Motive: route to Asia in search of
gold, spices, silk and other riches (just like
Columbus)
Regions Explored: New lands along northeastern
coast of Americas (not sure exactly where in this
area)
Obstacles: no maps, bad storms, ship sunk on 3rd
and final voyage; never returned
Results: Did not find people, silk or spices, but a
plentiful fishing area
Cabot’s Route of Explorations
Juan Ponce de Leon: soldier
Origin/Sponsor Country: Spain
Purpose/Goal/Motive: to claim land for Spain; search for
riches; searched for “Fountain of Youth” in present-day Florida
Obstacles: fought with some Natives; traded with others
Results of Exploration: Discovered/explored/claimed lands of
Florida, Panama and Central America; first European explorer
to reach Pacific Ocean from Americas side; planted corn;
started a settlement; first explorer to reach present day
United States
Other important information: Was on Columbus’ 2nd voyage,
but stayed behind in West Indies to start a settlement; served
as governor of Puerto Rico
Death: Shot by poisonous arrow and later died from wound
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Sponsor Country: Spain
Purpose/Goal/Motive: explore West Indies for gold
and riches; claim land for Spain
Regions Explored: Discovered/explored/claimed
lands of Panama and Central America; first
European explorer to reach Pacific Ocean from
American side (North America)
Obstacles: Native Americans; captured Indians as
slaves and stole gold from the Indians
Death: Was wrongly accused of being a traitor and
was beheaded for treason
Crossed the Isthmus
of Panama in
Central America;
Was the first
European explorer
to see the Pacific
Ocean from the side
of North America
Vasco Nunez de Balboa Route of Exploration
Christopher Columbus: sailor
Origin/Sponsor Country: Spain
Goal/Motive: to find riches; to find a route to Asia
What did he discover? Sailed to the islands what he thought
were the West Indies (islands off of east coast of America)
trying to reach Asia; he died thinking he had reached the
West Indies of Asia; introduced new crops to Spain (maize,
peanuts, potatoes, tomatoes and cacao (Columbian
Exchange)
Obstacles: no maps, strong winds and storms; frightened
crew
Other: Was friendly with Natives at first, but eventually
mistreated them by capturing them and taking them back to
Spain as slaves; sailed with 90 men and 3 ships named the
Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria;
Henry Hudson: sailor
Sponsor Countries: 1st voyage: Holland (hired by a Dutch trading company); 2nd
voyage: England
Purpose/Goal/Motive: to find a northwest route to Asia (across the top of Europe,
near the Arctic Circle)
Regions Explored/Results of Exploration: claimed lands for Holland and England
1st Exploration: Sailed up a river in present-day New York that he thought was a
large body of water that would lead north through the continent. Late realized
that it was only a river (later become known as the Hudson River)
2nd Exploration: Sailed further north into Hudson Bay (Canada) area;
Both the Hudson River and the Hudson Bay were named after him; created maps
of both areas for future use
Obstacles: ice and cold climate, strong storms, no maps, rebellious crew angry
over cold temperatures (eventually sent him off to sea in a small boat with eight
others and no food); often fought with natives, but traded with them at times,
too.
Other: hunted for fur; sent off on a boat by angry crew
Hudson’s Route of Explorations
Jacques Cartier: sailor
Origin/Sponsor Country: France
Purpose/Goal/Motive: find riches/gold and a
Northwest Passage/water route to Asia through the
continent of North America; wanted to discover
what he could of the “New World”;
Region Explored/Results of Exploration: St.
Lawrence River (on the first trip, he thought that
the Gulf of St. Lawrence was a bay, but discovered
that it was actually the mouth of a very large river)
He hoped this was a water route to Asia that
would lead him through the continent of North
America; claimed lands for France; started a
settlement that failed
Obstacles: diseases; limited maps; Native
Americans (were friendly at first, but when they
realized the French were coming to stay, became
hostile and fought with the explorers/settlers).