Warm Up:

“You must know that it is the greatest palace that ever was…The roof was lofty, and the walls of the Palace are all covered in gold and silver.

They are [covered] with…dragons, beasts and birds…on each of the four sides there is a great marble staircase leading to the top of the

marble wall…”

--Marco Polo

1. What is Marco Polo describing?

2. Where do you think this place is?

3. Would you like to go there?

Marco Polo’s Travels

Today’s Question:

What MOTIVATED European Explorers?

What OBSTACLES did they face?

Agenda:

1. In groups: brainstorm reasons to explore and reasons not to explore

2. Notes/discussion: MOTIVATIONS and OBSTACLES of European Explorers

3. Begin ship log

Would you explore new lands?

With your table group, brainstorm reasons to explore

and reasons not to explore. Come to a decision together!

Would you explore new lands? Country Name

Reasons TO explore Reasons NOT TO explore

Motivation: the reason a person has for acting a certain way

Motivations for Exploration

G_____: Explorers wanted to get rich.

G_____: Explorers hoped to spread Christianity.

G_____: Explorers wanted their countries to become more powerful.

Obstacle: a thing that blocks

your way

Obstacles faced by explorers

Poor navigational __________ (compasses, maps)

Obstacles faced by explorers

Lack of __________.

___________ and starvation.

Obstacles faced by explorers

Fear of the _____________.

Ship log

You are an explorer who has set sail from Europe to explore new territories. Write a

log describing TWO MOTIVATIONS for leaving home and TWO OBSTACLES you

faced on your journey.