1. The Old World Finds the New

2. The Vikings
• The first to visit North America
• Had colonies in Greenland and Iceland
• Leif Ericson was the best known. He
founded Vinland
• Around 1000 AD

4. Leif Ericson Eric the Red

5. Why was Europe ready to start
exploring?
• Better ships were designed and built

6. Why was Europe ready to start
exploring?
• New instruments were available

7. Why was Europe ready to start
exploring?
• The growth of towns and cities created more
wealth

8. How big was Columbus’ ship?
• Titanic – 882 feet
• Cargo ship – 964 feet
• Aircraft carrier – 1092 feet
• Cruise ship -- 1187
Hints: Santa Maria was the biggest and slowest
Nina was the smallest

9. How fast was Columbus’ ship?
• Cargo Ship – 16.1 miles per hour
• Cruise ship – 24.15 miles per hour
• Titanic – 24.15 miles per hour
• Aircraft carrier – 34.5 miles per
hour

10. Reasons for Exploration
1. Wanted to find a new route to the Orient for
spices
2. Wanted fine products of the East (silks and
gems)
WANTED NEW AND FASTER TRADE ROUTES!

11. COLUMBUS
• Wanted to use money from new lands to fight
the Muslims who were invading Europe
• Was from Italy, but couldn’t get support
there
• Spain supported his voyage
Columbus

12. Queen Isabella King Ferdinand

13. Columbus’ proposed route

14. Columbus
• Left in 1492
• Traveled for two months
• Thought he found the Far East
• Called the island he found San Salvador
(Holy Savior) and the people Indians

15. Columbus’ Actual Route

16. Amerigo Vespucci
• Italian who proved Columbus had found a new
world
• It was names “America” after him
Amerigo Vespucci

17. What happened to the “Indians”?
• The Spanish enslaved or killed many of them
• Fell prey to foreign germs and diseases

18. What do you see?

19. What do you see?