Exploration of the New World

Who is credited with discovering the "New World" for Spain?

• Christopher Columbus

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Vasco da Gama

• Amerigo Vespucci

Spain claimed which areas in the Americas?

• Mexico and Peru

• Brazil and Argentina

• Canada and Greenland

• United States and Cuba

What were some of the reasons that the Spanish explored Texas?

• To find gold and riches

• To spread Christianity

• To establish trade routes

• To escape from European conflicts

Europeans began to look for new routes to Asia because:

• They wanted to explore new lands.

• They were seeking new trade opportunities.

• They were escaping from wars in Europe.

• They were interested in Asian culture.

Highlight the names of the two explorers on this page. Underline the text that tells where each sailed.

• Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan

• Marco Polo and Vasco da Gama

• James Cook and Hernán Cortés

• Leif Erikson and Amerigo Vespucci

Columbus journeyed across the Atlantic because:

• He wanted to find a new trade route to Asia.

• He was seeking new lands for settlement.

• He was escaping political persecution.

• He was searching for mythical cities of gold.

The conquistadores were Spanish explorers and soldiers. What was their primary goal?

• To establish trade routes

• To spread Christianity

• To conquer and colonize new territories

• To discover new scientific knowledge

After landing in Mexico, what action did Cortés and his men take?

• They immediately returned to Spain.

• They established a settlement.

• They engaged in trade with the locals.

• They explored the coastline.

What is a mission?

• A task or job that someone is given to do

• A type of vehicle

• A place to live

• A type of food

Circle the names of four conquistadores discussed in the text at the right.

• Hernán Cortés

• Francisco Pizarro

• Juan Ponce de León

• Vasco Núñez de Balboa

• Christopher Columbus