Social Studies - Exploring the Americas

Why did Europeans look to the sea for new trade routes?

• Because the Ottoman Empire cut off their access to land routes.

• The Catholic Church began taxing trade along land routes.

• Climate change made it difficult to move their goods on the

  Silk Road.

• Thieves were a danger along the Silk Road.

How did the astrolabe help European explorers?

• It made their ships easier to steer.

• It helped with many types of calculations.

• It helped them to determine wind direction.

• It allowed them to determine their longitude.

Why did Coronado travel from Mexico to present-day Kansas?

• to map the Colorado River

• to map the Mississippi River

• to find the Northwest Passage

• to find the Seven Golden Cities of Cibola

Which explorer’s voyage took the greatest length of time?

a.

• Magellan

• Vespucci

• Columbus

• Ponce de León

What were the three things that European explorers wanted from their travels?

• adventure

  fame

  wealth

• adventure

  horses

  cattle

• fame

  horses

  cattle

• wealth

  technology

  cattle

How can Columbus be considered both an entrepreneur and an explorer?

• Columbus had he set up his expedition like a business and hoped to make a profit. He

  wanted to increase his personal wealth as well.

• Columbus just wanted to leave Spain and start sailing

What did the European explorers want when they journeyed to the new world, and what challenges did

they face?

• European explorers

  wanted to claim new lands for European kings and queens, become wealthy, and gain fame. The challenges they faced were long distances, hard living conditions,

  hostile or mean American Indians, and rival explorers.

• European explorers

  wanted to new technology and cattle. They challenges they faced were too much food and quick travels.