Age of Exploration Era worksheet - 1

2. Exploration & the Columbian Exchange
TEKS: 8.2 (A) identify reasons for English, Spanish, and French exploration, and colonization of North America
Name the Era and Define:
Vocabulary: Define each word throughout the lesson.
Conquistador: Convert: Persecution: Colonization: Commodity:
Instructions: Use the readings to summarize the goals, land claims, motivations and interests of the Europeans
in the New World and compare and contrast the motives and interests of all 3 European countries.
Guided Inquiries Spain Takes the Lead France Follows in Pursuit England Does Not Stay
Behind
Why did this
European Country
set out to
explore?
What land did
each country
claim in the “New
World”? (Color
the Map and the
Box)
What specific
reasons did each
country have for
ongoing
exploration and
COLONIZATION
of their new
land?
Quick write: What
led to the
European’s
“discovery” of the
Americas and were
they justified in
their continued
colonization?
Explain (3-5
Sentences)

3. Your Highnesses, as Catholic Christians, and princes who love and promote the holy Christian faith, and are
enemies of the doctrine of Mahomet [Mohammed], and of all idolatry and heresy, determined to send me,
Christopher Columbus, to the above-mentioned countries of India, to see the said princes, people, and
territories, and to learn their disposition and the proper method of converting them to our holy faith; and
furthermore directed that I should not proceed by land to the East, as is customary, but by a Westerly
route, in which direction we have hitherto no certain evidence that any one has gone. So after having expelled
the Jews from your dominions, your Highnesses, in the same month of January, ordered me to proceed with a
sufficient armament to the said regions of India, and for that purpose granted me great favors, and ennobled
me that thenceforth I might call myself Don, and be High Admiral of the Sea, and perpetual Viceroy and
Governor in all the islands and continents which I might discover and acquire, or which may hereafter he
discovered and acquired in the ocean.
- Christopher Columbus
What was Christopher Columbus’s mission? Was he successful? (3-5 Sentences)
The Columbian Exchange
List some significant items brought
to the Americas:
How might these new items affect
the Native Americans?
List some significant items brought
to the Eurpeans:
How might these new items affect
the Europeans?

4. The European Countries that launched
the Age of Exploration

5. The discoveries of explorers such as Columbus inspired many European nations to take to the open seas. Spain led
the way. The Spanish explored for “God, Gold, and Glory.”
Spanish explorers called Conquistadors explored and conquered much of North
and South America; making Spain the largest geographical occupier
in the New World.
The desire for glory and fame led Spain to build their empire
in the New World, making Spain the most powerful country
in the world.
The Conquistadors were ruthless in their exploration of the New World. They slaughtered hundreds of thousands
of native people and robbed them of their gold, jewels, and destroyed their civilizations. As a result, ships loaded
with riches sailed back to Spain carrying more gold, jewels, and stories than people could imagine; economically
making Spain the richest country in the world.
European Exploration of North
American: The Spanish
Finding a Northwest Passage (an all water route) to
Asia was the goal of most European countries, Spain
was among the first. Asia possessed valuable silks
and spices that many Europeans desired. The
Spanish explored and conquered for three major
reasons: Gold, God, and Glory.
Beginning with the arrival of Christopher
Columbus in 1492 in the Caribbean, the Spanish
Empire would expand across the Caribbean Islands,
half of South America, most of Central America and
much of North America (including present day
Mexico, Florida and the Southwestern and Pacific
Coastal regions of
the United States).
Along with the conquistadors, Spanish missionaries and priests arrived to convert
the native populations to Catholicism. Some natives peacefully accepted
Catholicism, however many rejected the message of the missionaries and fought
violently against them. In a unique partnership, some missionaries and priests
allowed the conquistadors to slaughter peaceful tribes who were unwilling to
convert to Christianity. The introduction of Spanish missionaries led to the gradual
collapse of traditional Native American culture and religion.

6. Becoming friendly with the native people
was essential to successful trade; the
French made Native Americans their
business partners and allies. The French
made an alliance with the Hurons and
Algonquians; Champlain even agreed to
fight for them against
their enemy, the Iroquois.
For the next 150 years, Quebec would be a
base for French explorers, soldiers,
missionaries, traders, and fur trappers.
European Exploration of North
American: The French
France saw how Spain benefited from the resources of the New World and decided
to make its own economic and geographic claims in North America. Since Spain
controlled most of southern part of North America, France decided to explore and
claim the northern part which is now modern-day Canada.
To keep a political and military presence in the Americas, France built a series of
military forts across the Ohio River Valley to keep the Spanish and other European
countries out of their territory. Like Spain, France was a Catholic nation and
committed to expanding Catholicism and therefore built Catholic missions to
convert the native peoples.
France’s explorers search for but did not find
the Northwest Passage; however, they did claim
the land we know today as Canada for France.
The French discovered something almost as
valuable as Spanish gold- beaver fur. Beaver
hats were a hot fashion item in Europe. French
hat-makers were willing to pay high prices for
beaver skins. The fur trade was extremely
profitable for French settlers.
Unlike other imperial powers (Spain and
England), France fostered especially good
relationships with native peoples as they
expanded westward.

7. European Exploration of North
American: The English
Many British settlers came to the New World for the
chance to own land, increase their wealth, and seek
freedom to practice their religion. In England during
the 1400’s-1500’s all citizens were required to belong
to the Church of England (Anglican Church). If they
refused to belong to the church, they faced
persecution, torture, and even death.
As a result, thousands of English religious immigrants such as the
Pilgrims, set sail in a ship called the Mayflower and settled in
Massachusetts (1620). They founded the Plymouth colony. For the sake
of order for their new colony, the men aboard the Mayflower signed an
agreement called the Mayflower Compact. In it, they vowed to obey
laws agreed upon for the good of the colony. The Mayflower Compact
helped established the idea of self-government and majority rule. The
Quakers, another religious group, traveled to the Americas and settled
in Pennsylvania.
Some settlers thought they would find the same gold and silver
discovered by the Spanish, or even get involved in the fur trade like the
French. Instead, the British discovered other valuable resources such
as timber and fishing. In 1607, a group of businessmen and merchants
formed the London Company to start a colony in Virginia. This colony’s
name was Jamestown, and it was the first successful British colony in
the New World. Jamestown almost failed, however it was the success of
the tobacco crop which made Jamestown flourish.
Geographically, the British settlements were located along the Atlantic coastline.
England spent a massive amount of money to develop their colonies in the
Americas. Eventually they established thirteen colonies in the Americas along the
Atlantic Ocean, each with their own purpose. For example, the Jamestown colony of
Virginia was established for economic reasons. The Plymouth colony of
Massachusetts was established by the Puritans (Pilgrims) for religious reasons. The
Georgia colony was established as a refuge for individuals escaping debtor’s
prison. The British government supported all these efforts because it was
competing for land in the New World with Spain and France.