A Changing World

Chapter 2, Section 1
Chapter 2
Exploring the Americas

 Section 1 – A Changing World

 Section 2 – Early Exploration
 Section 3 – Spain in America
 Section 4 – Exploring North America
 Chapter Review
 Chapter 2 Test
Main Idea

 New knowledge and

ideas led Europeans to
explore overseas.
 What led Europeans
to Explore the World?

 The Crusades and Marco Polo’s book

made many Europeans excited at the
idea of trading directly with the Far
East.

Trade
The Journey of Marco Polo
 What led Europeans
to Explore the World?
 Merchants could become wealthy
trading for Asian goods, such as
spices, silks and precious stones.

 Europeans wanted to trade with the

Far East, but avoid Silk Road
dangers & the high prices of Arab
merchants.

Trade
 What led Europeans
to Explore the World?

 Interest in classical ideas -

Greek & Roman

 A greater curiosity about the

world - the Renaissance

Renaissance
 What led Europeans
to Explore the World?

 Powerful nations emerge in

Europe

 Kings and Queens competed

with other countries for new
discoveries and trade routes.

Competition
 What led Europeans
to Explore the World?

 Advances in technology
– Magnetic compass
– Astrolabe
– Caravels (triangular sails,
stern rudder)
– More accurate maps

Technology
 The Age of Exploration Begins

 By the mid-1400’s,
Portugal & Spain began
searching for sea-
routes to Asia.

 Portugal sent ships

down the west coast of
Africa to places
Europeans had never
reached.
 African Kingdoms

 Ghana, A Trading Empire (400-1100)

– Trade caravans traveled across the Sahara Desert to and from
Ghana

 Mali, A Powerful Kingdom (1200’s-1300’s)

– Powerful empire led by king, Mansa Musa
– Annual pilgrimage to holy Muslim city of Mecca

 The Songhai Empire (1400’s)

– Became largest West African empire
– Government based on the holy book of Islam, the Quran
 Vocabulary Practice

B 1. time of "rebirth" when

__
Europeans became more
curious about the world
D 2. an instrument used by sailors A. classical
__
to observe positions of the B. Renaissance
stars C. technology
A 3. relating to ancient Greece
__ D. astrolabe
and Rome E. caravel

C 4. the application of scientific

__
discoveries to practical use
E 5. three-masted ship that was
__
faster and could carry heavier
loads than earlier ships
 Vocabulary Practice
B
__ 1. religious wars between
Christians and Muslims where
Europeans were first exposed
to Asian goods
D
__ 2. country where Marco Polo A. Marco Polo
spent 17 years before B. The Crusades
returning home to Italy
C. Italy
E
__ 3. European country that first
D. China
used caravels and explored
the west coast of Africa E. Portugal

__
A 4. wrote influential book about
his travels to Asia
__
C 5. European country that became
the center of east-west trade
in the 1400's