Explorers

Exploration, Conflict, and Trade in the Pacific

Chapter 7 : Explorers

• For thousands of years, Europeans and Pacific Islanders did not know of each other.

• Large continents and vast oceans separated them.

Before Exploration

Multiple Choice

Why didn’t Europeans and Pacific Islanders know about each other for thousands of years?

• They spoke different languages

• They avoided contact on purpose

• They had nothing to trade for the Pacific Islanders

• They were separated by large continents and vast oceans

Multiple Choice

Around what time period did European exploration into the Pacific begin?

• 450 A.D.

• 1100 A.D.

• Late 1400s

• Late 1700s

• After the fall of the Roman Empire (A.D. 450), Europeans mainly traded among themselves.

• The Crusades (1096-1230) introduced Europeans to Muslim foods, clothing, and trade goods, increasing interest in trade with Asia.

• Europeans wanted spices, silks, and other goods from Asia.

What Sparked European Interest?

Multiple Choice

What event introduced Europeans to new foods and trade goods from Asia?

• The Renaissance

• The Black Death

• The Crusades

• The Scientific Revolution

Multiple Choice

Why did European countries look for ocean routes instead of using land trade routes?

• Land routes were controlled by Italy

• The roads were too dangerous

• Asia refused to trade with Europe

• They wanted to explore the Arctic

Multiple Choice

What was one major effect of the Crusades (1096-1230) on European trade?

• It discouraged trade with Muslim regions

• It introduced Europeans to new foods, clothing, and goods

• It led to the discovery of new continents in the New World

• It caused European explorers to stop sailing in Pacific Islands

Multiple Choice

Which of the following trade goods did Europeans become interested in due to the Crusades?

• Gold and potatoes

• Iron and coal

• Wheat and corn

• Spices and silks

Early Exploration

• Italy controlled many land trade routes, so other European nations explored ocean routes.

• Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands began ocean exploration in the late 1400s.

• Portugal sailed around Africa to reach India.

• Christopher Columbus (1492) tried to find a western route to India but reached the New World instead.

Multiple Choice

Which country was the first to explore the Atlantic Ocean extensively?

• England

• Portugal

• Italy

• Spain

Multiple Select

What was Christopher Columbus attempting to find when he sailed west in 1492?

• A new continent

• A western route to India

• A faster route to Africa

• A shortcut to the Pacific Islands

Multiple Choice

Which countries were among the first to begin ocean exploration in the late 1400s?

• China, Japan, and Korea

• Russia, Italy, and Greece

• Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands

• England, France, and Germany

Motivations for Exploration

• Trade: To acquire valuable resources (gold, spices, silks).

• Wealth & Power: New lands brought riches and influence.

• Christianity: Many Europeans wanted to convert non-Europeans to their religion.

• Science & Discovery: Some explorers wanted to learn about the Earth

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT a reason Europeans explored new lands?

• To gain wealth and power

• To bring democracy to new lands

• To find new trade routes

• To spread Christianity

Multiple Choice

How did European exploration help their home countries?

• It allowed them to trade more with each other

• It helped sailors find jobs

• It brought wealth and new markets for goods

• It allowed them to build stronger ships

Multiple Choice

Why did some European explorers focus on spreading Christianity?

• They wanted to convert non-Europeans to their religion

• They were ordered by the government to explore new lands

• They wanted to escape religious persecution in Europe

• They believed non-Europeans already practiced Christianity

• Ship Design: 15th-century European ships were meant for short coastal trips, not long ocean voyages.

• Old Ships: Early explorers were given older, often rotten ships because ship owners didn’t want to risk new ones.

• Navigation Problems:

  • Sailors could determine latitude but struggled with longitude.

  • Land was often found by accident.

Challenges of Long Voyages:

Multiple Choice

Why were early European ships poorly suited for long voyages?

• They were designed for short coastal trips

• They could not carry enough supplies

• They could not sail at night

• They were too fast for long-distance travel

Multiple Choice

What was one major problem early navigators faced?

• They only traveled during winter

• They had no maps of the oceans

• They could not tell time accurately

• They could not determine longitude precisely

• Most sailors were poor and uneducated.

• Many were tricked, bribed, or kidnapped into sailing.

• Some sailors mutinied (rebelled), but mutinies were rare due to fear of punishment and lack of navigation skills.

Life of Sailors:

Multiple Choice

How did many sailors end up on voyages?

• They were selected by the king

• They were highly trained professionals

• They volunteered to escape paying taxes

• They were forced, tricked, or bribed into joining

Multiple Choice

What was the social status of most sailors during the Age of Exploration?

• Poor and uneducated

• Nobles seeking adventure

• Wealthy and highly educated

• Scientists and scholars

Multiple Choice

Why were mutinies rare among sailors?

• Captains treated their crews well

• Most sailors were loyal to their captains

• Explorers provided high wages to prevent rebellions

• Sailors feared punishment and lacked navigation skills

Food & Survival

• Ships carried supplies for only six months, but voyages lasted two to three years.

• Main foods: Salted pork, salted beef, and hardtack biscuits (which lasted long but were hard to eat).

• Sailors lacked fresh fruits and vegetables, leading to scurvy (Vitamin C deficiency), which caused swollen gums, tooth loss, and death.

• Pacific Islanders had dried fish and breadfruit, which could have helped prevent scurvy, but early European explorers didn’t know about them.

Multiple Choice

What were the main foods that sailors ate on long voyages?

• Rice and beans

• Fresh fruits and vegetables

• Dried fish and breadfruit

• Salted meat and hardtack biscuits

Multiple Choice

What caused many sailors to develop scurvy?

• Lack of clean drinking water

• A diet missing vitamin C

• Eating too much hardtack

• Not enough exercise on the ship

Multiple Choice

How could Pacific Islanders have helped European sailors avoid scurvy?

• By providing fresh water

• By teaching them to sail better

• By sharing dried fish and breadfruit

• By helping them build bigger ships