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Chapter 3 Study Guide

Explorers

NORTH AMERICA

Major European countries were in competition to extend their power into North America and claim the land as their own.

Reasons for exploration:

v ECONOMIC—gold, natural resources, and trade

v RELIGIOUS—spread of Christianity

v LAND—competitions for empire and belief in superiority of own culture

Obstacles to exploration:

v Poor maps and navigational tools

v Disease/starvation

v Fear of unknown

v Lack of adequate supplies

Accomplishments of exploration:

v Exchange of goods and ideas between cultures and countries

v Improved navigational tools, ships and technology

v Claim of new territories for European countries

SPAIN

v Francisco Coronado claimed southwest U.S. for Spain

FRANCE

v Samuel de Champlain established the French settlement of Quebec.

v Robert La Salle claimed the Mississippi River Valley

ENGLAND

v John Cabot explored eastern Canada

PORTUGUAL

v Made voyages of discovery along West Africa

The interactions between First Americans and Europeans sometimes led to cooperation and sometimes resulted in conflict.

CULTURAL INTERACTIONS WITH FIRST AMERICANS

SPANISH

o Conquered and enslaved First Americans

o Brought Christianity to the New World

o Brought European diseases to the Indians

FRENCH

o Established trading posts

o Spread Christianity

ENGLISH

o Established settlements and claimed ownership of land

o Learned faming techniques from Indians

o Traded

Areas of cooperation between American Indians and Europeans:

v Technologies (transportation of weapons and farm tools)

v Trade

v Crops

Areas of conflict with the American Indians: (and other Europeans):

v Land

v Competition for trade

v Cultural differences

v Disease

v Language differences

WEST AFRICA

Ghana, Mali and Songhai

v Each dominated West Africa in turn from 300-1600A.D.

v Became powerful by controlling trade in West Africa

African people and African goods played an important role in arousing European interest in world resources. African goods encouraged explorers to look for more in the world around them.

Portuguese took metals, cloth and other manufactured goods to West Africa and traded for gold.