Explorers and Tools
What tool always points North?
Name one reason Europeans explored the New World
To gain land, wealth, or spread Christianity
What is the "New World"
North and South America
What is an explorer?
A person who travels to find new information
Name one European country involved in early exploration.
Spain, Portugal, France, or England
What tool helps sailors find their latitude using the sun or stars?
Astrolabe
What religion did Europeans want to spread to new lands?
Name one food Europeans discovered in the New World.
Corn, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, squash, or cacao
What does “navigation” mean?
Planning and following a route
What ocean did most explorers cross to reach the Americas?
The Atlantic Ocean
What did explorers use to plan their routes across land and sea?
Map
Why did Spain want more land?
To gain power and natural resources
What is a “cash crop”?
A crop grown in large amounts to sell for money
What is a “voyage”?
A long journey by sea
Name one danger explorers faced on their voyages.
Storms, getting lost, running out of food, or sickness
During which century did the Age of Exploration begin?
the late 1400s
Name two natural resources explorers hoped to find
Gold and silver
What was one of the most valuable cash crops discovered?
Tobacco
Explain the difference between an explorer and a settler.
Explorers travel to discover; settlers stay to build communities or colonies.
What type of flag would the Europeans place when they reached new land?
Their flags also had the letter “F” for King Ferdinand and a “Y” for Queen Ysabel
Why were navigation tools important for explorers traveling across the ocean?
They helped sailors know where they were and how to return safely.
Before Columbus, why were maps of the world incomplete or inaccurate?
Mapmakers didn’t yet know about the New World or how wide the Atlantic Ocean was; many areas were unexplored.
How did New World foods change life in Europe?
They improved diets and led to population growth.
What is an archaeologist
a scientist who studies artifacts to learn about past cultures
Imagine you are Captain Smith writing a letter to the King—what would you say to convince him to keep funding your voyages?
should mention land, gold, power, or spreading Christianity.