The document summarizes the key motivations, obstacles, and accomplishments of European exploration. The Europeans wanted to explore to find gold, natural resources, trade routes, and to spread Christianity. Their exploration was hindered by poor maps, navigational tools, fear of the unknown, and lack of adequate supplies. However, their accomplishments included exchanging goods and ideas between regions, improving navigational technology, and claiming new territories for their empires in places like North America.

1. European Exploration
SOL USI.4a
6th grade
Portsmouth Public Schools

2. Exploration
• The Motivating Forces for
Exploration
• The Obstacles to Exploration
• The Accomplishments of Exploration

3. Why did the Europeans want to
explore:
To find Gold, Natural Resources
and Trade Routes

4. Why did the Europeans want to
explore?
To spread their religion-Christianity

5. Why did the Europeans want to
explore?
They wanted to help make their
empire/country the BEST or superior
AND
They believed in the superiority of their
own culture.

6. Obstacles to Exploration:
Bad/Poor Maps
(Early explorers thought the world was flat. They didn’t
know that North or South America were here)
Bad/Poor Navigational Tools
(If they would have had better tools, they would’ve known
about North and South America)

7. Obstacles to Exploration
Fear of the Unknown
(early sea travelers thought there were sea monsters
like the Loch Ness Monster)
Lack of adequate supplies
(They didn’t pack enough food or water for the
trip. Many men starved to death and
Others ate rats to survive.)

8. Accomplishments of Exploration
Exchanged goods and ideas
(food, clothing, new trade partners)
Improved navigational tools and
ships
Claimed Territories

9. Regions of North America
explored by Spain
• Francisco Coronado claimed the
southwest United States for Spain.

10. Regions of North America
explored by France
• Samuel de Champlain established the
French settlement of Quebec.
• Robert La Salle claimed the Mississippi
River Valley.

11. Quebec

13. Regions of North America
explored by England
• John Cabot explored eastern Canada for
England.
Notice the St.
Lawrence River!

14. Regions explored by Portugal
• The Portuguese made voyages of
discovery along West Africa.