6-8.WH.1.CC.A — Causes & Effects of Exploration
What are the “3 G’s” of exploration?
God, Gold, and Glory
What was the main economic motivation for exploration?
Finding trade routes and wealth (spices, gold, resources).
Which is a primary source: a diary from an explorer or a modern textbook?
A diary from an explorer.
What does it mean that history is shaped by perspectives?
Different people see and describe events in different ways.
Which continents were connected by European exploration routes?
Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
What was one effect of European exploration on Indigenous peoples?
Diseases killed large populations / loss of land / cultural disruption
Why were spices important to Europeans?
They preserved food, added flavor, and were highly valuable for trade.
Which is a secondary source: a map drawn by Columbus or a biography about Columbus written in 2000?
A biography written in 2000.
In a Spanish explorer’s journal, whose perspective is being shown?
The Spanish/European explorer’s.
What did explorers use maps for?
To plan and track exploration routes and new discoveries.
What was one positive and one negative effect of the Columbian Exchange?
Positive – new foods/crops
Negative – spread of deadly diseases
How did European countries expect exploration to make them more powerful?
By gaining wealth through trade, resources, and colonies.
Why might a Spanish explorer’s journal not tell the full truth?
It shows only their perspective, may exaggerate or leave out Indigenous views. (Bias)
How might an Indigenous account of first contact differ from a European one?
Indigenous might describe fear, loss, or cultural changes, while Europeans focus on wealth and opportunity.
Name one explorer and describe the route they traveled.
Columbus — from Spain to the Caribbean; Magellan — attempted to circumnavigate the globe.
Explain how exploration changed trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Led to the triangular trade system, connecting continents through goods, people, and resources.
Which “G” relates to economic motivations? Explain.
Gold — explorers sought riches, trade routes, and resources
If we only read Spanish sources, what information might be missing?
Indigenous experiences, perspectives, and impacts on their cultures.
Why is it important to look at more than one perspective when studying history?
To avoid bias and get a fuller, more accurate understanding of events.
How did exploration routes change relationships between continents?
They linked continents through trade, exchange of goods, and people.
Compare two different effects of exploration, one positive for Europe and one negative for Indigenous peoples.
Positive for Europe – wealth, new crops
Negative for Indigenous – loss of land, population decline from disease.
Explain how economic motivations led to conflict between European countries
Competition over trade routes and colonies caused rivalries and wars.
How could comparing an Indigenous account and a European account give us a better understanding of history?
It allows us to see multiple perspectives, compare experiences, and get a more complete picture.
Explain how the perspective of an explorer could affect how they describe Indigenous peoples.
They may describe them as “uncivilized” or focus on resources instead of their culture, showing bias toward European goals.
Explain one way maps can help us understand the effects of exploration.
They show how new connections changed trade, migration, and cultural interactions across continents.