Explorers and Conquistadors

Unit 4, SSWH 10 a

Conquistador and Explorer• Conquistador: Spanish soldiers, explorers, & fortune hunters who took part in the conquest of the Americas in the 16th century.• Explorer: a person who travels in search of geographical or scientific information.

Zheng He, 1430s• Chinese Muslim admiral, led 7 expeditions• Chinese emperor, Youglo, wanted the world to see China’s greatness• Traveled from Southeast Asia to eastern Africa

•Some foreign countries paid tribute to China, & all received Chinese gifts•After the 7th expedition China withdrew into isolation

Christopher Columbus, 1492• Spanish wanted a direct route to Asia•October, discovered an island in the Caribbean “East Indies”•Opened the way for European colonization of the Americas

• Increased tensions between Spain & Portugal• Treaty of Tordesillas: Agreement of both countries & what land they could have (imaginary line North & South)

Vasco da Gama, 1497• Portuguese explorer – explored

the east African coast• In 1498, reached Calicut (India)• Returned to Portugal, 1499, brought back cargo 60 times the cost of the voyage• Discovered a direct route to India

Ferdinand Magellan, 1519• Portuguese explorer, sailed for Spain to discover the new ocean (Pacific)• Sailed around the southern tip of South America• Eventually, reached the Philippines 1521

•Magellan died in the Philippines (local war) & his crew returned home 1522• First group to circumnavigate (sail around) the world

Samuel de Champlain, 1608

• French explorer went into the New York harbor & sailed up the St. Lawrence River.•He & 32 colonists found Quebec, which became the base for French colonies - “New France”

James Cook, 1769•British sea captain, claimed New Zealand and part of Australia for England