Early European Explorers

Guided Notes

Early English Explorers

(Don’t worry…there’s only one!)

Explorer #1: John Cabot

•WHERE HE WAS FROM: Was really an Italian, but he sailed for England in 1497.

•WHERE HE EXPLORED: Explored northern Canada

•He was in search of the Northwest Passage.

•OUTCOME: He was unsuccessful in his search, but he did claim Newfoundland (Canada) for England.

Early French Explorers

(Yet again, only one!)

Explorer #2: Giovanni da Verrazano

• WHERE HE WAS FROM Was Italian, but sailed for France (Do you see a trend here with these Italians?)

So what’s so important about this guy???

WHERE HE EXPLORED/OUTCOME: He was the first European to visit and chart North Carolina’s coast!

Early Spanish Explorers

First, a few key terms…

Conquistadors –

• Spanish fortune hunters who explored to find gold and glory (2 of the 4 “G’s”) – These were ruthless, greedy, selfish, not-nice men.

First, a few key terms…

Tenochtitlán –

• (teh-NOHCH-tee-TLAHN) – Aztec capital city. (Now Mexico City)

First, a few key terms…Quetzalcoatl –

• (keht ZAHL koh-AHT-l) – Aztec god of wisdom and civilization.

Explorer #3: Hernando Cortés

• WHERE HE WAS FROM: Spain

•Sought only riches (gold of the 4 G’s)

•WHERE HE EXPLORED: Mexico

•OUTCOME: He defeated the Aztec chief (Montezuma), destroyed Tenochtitlán, and claimed Mexico for Spain.

•This was interesting because according to ancient Aztec legend, the god Quetzalcoatl had been cast out centuries earlier. He threatened that he would one day return as a “bearded white man” in a “white winged ship.” Cortes (a bearded white man) arrived in the same year that Quetzalcoatl was supposed to return.

Explorer #4: Francisco Pizarro

• WHERE HE WAS FROM: Spain

•WHERE HE EXPLORED: Explored present-day Peru

•OUTCOME: Captured the Ancient Inca Empire and killed their emperor Atahualpa; claimed Peru for Spain

The Spanish Empire after Cortes and Pizarro:

Spanish Missions

• Many Spanish Catholic priests came to the “New World” to convert the natives to Christianity.

• They lived/worked in missions like this one. Missions were settlements where priests lived and worked to convert natives to Christianity (kind of like churches, but a little different).

•Most missionaries helped the natives, but some used them as slaves…just like the conquistadors.

•Missionaries are people who teach their faith to people of other faiths.

Explorer #5: Juan Ponce de León

•WHERE HE WAS FROM: Spain

• WHERE HE EXPLORED: Searched Florida, unsuccessfully, for the Fountain of Youth

• OUTCOME: Helped establish America’s oldest city: St. Augustine, Florida.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPvIsHNxUEc

Explorer #6: Vasquez de Ayllon

• WHERE HE WAS FROM: Spain

•WHERE HE EXPLORED : Attempted 1st European settlement of NC at Cape Fear River

• OUTCOME: Settlement failed because the land was too swampy.

Explorer #7: Hernando De Soto• WHERE HE WAS FROM: Spain

•WHERE HE EXPLORED/OUTCOME: First explored and charted the Mississippi River and other southeastern states.

And finally…Explorers #8 and #9:

•WHERE THEY WERE FROM: Spain

• Pedro de Coronas – WHERE: explored the Currituck Sound on the coast of NC

• OUTCOME: He claimed NE North Carolina for Spain, but this claim did not last long.

• Juan Pardo - WHERE HE EXPLORED /OUTCOME: first explored the Blue Ridge parkway and the mountains of NC.

The End.