european explorers of the new world

1. Yesterday we began learning about
the European explorers who landed in
North America. Review the following
slides before completing a brief quick
check about each explorer.

2. Who sailed the ocean blue in 1492?

3. In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail across the Atlantic Ocean in search
of the Indies. He had spent much time trying to convince King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella of Spain to pay for the ships that would have him bringing them all of the
finest riches in India. This would be a difficult journey because Columbus would have
to sail west to reach the Indies in the east.
The King and Queen finally agreed and gave Columbus three ships, the
Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. After a difficult voyage, Columbus and his
three ships landed. Believing he had landed in India he named the native people
there Indians. Columbus actually landed on an island south of North America,
known as San Salvador. This “mistake” in which he discovered the Americas
opened the doors to future European exploration.

4. SpainSpain
San SalvadorSan Salvador

5. Juan Ponce de LeonJuan Ponce de Leon
• Ponce de Leon sailed for
Spain
• He went looking for the
Fountain of Youth
• He was the first European
to land on the peninsula
of Florida
• Ponce de Leon explored
the area that later
became St. Augustine,
the first Spanish
settlement in the New
World

6. Ponce de Leon’s Journey
FloridaFlorida
Spain

7. Jacques Cartier
• Cartier sailed for
France.
• He was looking for
the Northwest
passage to the Indies.
• He explored the St.
Lawrence River in
Canada, near what
later became Quebec.

8. Jacques Cartier’s Voyage
FranceFranceSt. Lawrence River

9. Christopher NewportChristopher Newport
Christopher Newport sailed for England. He was sent by the Virginia
Company to establish a colony in the New World. Newport sailed with
colonists and supplies on three ships: the Susan Constant, the Godspeed,
and the Discovery.
They landed in the New World in 1607 and named the new settlement
Jamestown, after King James of England. Jamestown was the first successful
English settlement. It is located on the James River in what is now Virginia.

10. England
Jamestown

11. ReviewReview
Number your paper #1-4, then write each explorer’s home
nation and landing point next to their number.
1. Christopher
Columbus
2. Juan Ponce de Leon
3. Jacques Cartier
4. Christopher Newport
Word Bank
Jamestown
France
Spain
St. Augustine
England
Quebec
San Salvador
Spain

12. Number your paper from 1 to 4. Match the explorer with the
accomplishment. Write the explorer’s name on the line
beside the number.