Early Voyages to the AmericasEarly Voyages to the Americas In 1001 Viking sailors led by In 1001 Viking sailors led by Leif Erickson reached the northern Leif Erickson reached the northern tip of North America.tip of North America.

Vikings are believed to have Vikings are believed to have settled in Vinland (current day settled in Vinland (current day Newfoundland)Newfoundland)

Asians continued to cross the Asians continued to cross the Bering Sea into North America after Bering Sea into North America after the last ice age.the last ice age.

Portuguese and Spanish Portuguese and Spanish sailors wanted a share of the Asian sailors wanted a share of the Asian spice trade.spice trade.

King Ferdinand and Queen King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to finance a voyage Isabella agreed to finance a voyage of exploration by Christopher of exploration by Christopher ColumbusColumbus Columbus, an Italian sea captain, Columbus, an Italian sea captain, thought he could reach the East Indies by thought he could reach the East Indies by sailing west across the Atlantic.sailing west across the Atlantic.

Columbus Reaches the AmericasColumbus Reaches the Americas

In 1492 Columbus set out with In 1492 Columbus set out with 3 ships and a crew of about 90 3 ships and a crew of about 90 sailors. Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria)sailors. Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria)

Columbus commanded the Columbus commanded the largest ship, the Santa Maria.largest ship, the Santa Maria.

Columbus and his crew hit land Columbus and his crew hit land on October 12on October 12thth 1492 at 2am. 1492 at 2am.

Columbus was sure he had Columbus was sure he had reached the East Indies, when reached the East Indies, when infact it was actually the Caribbean.infact it was actually the Caribbean.

Columbus Reaches the AmericasColumbus Reaches the Americas

When Columbus returned to When Columbus returned to Spain he presented the Queen and Spain he presented the Queen and King with gifts never seen before.King with gifts never seen before.

Including …..pink pearls, parrots, Including …..pink pearls, parrots, tobacco, pineapple and hammocks.tobacco, pineapple and hammocks.

Columbus also described the Columbus also described the Indians he encountered there.Indians he encountered there.

He explained that the Indians He explained that the Indians could easily be converted to could easily be converted to Christianity.Christianity.

Columbus Reaches the AmericasColumbus Reaches the Americas

Columbus made 3 more trips across the Columbus made 3 more trips across the Atlantic.Atlantic.

In 1493 he found the first Spanish In 1493 he found the first Spanish colonycolony in in the Americas, on an island he called Hispaniola. the Americas, on an island he called Hispaniola. (Present-Day Haiti and the Dominican Republic)(Present-Day Haiti and the Dominican Republic)

A COLONY is a group of people who A COLONY is a group of people who settle in a distant land but are still ruled by settle in a distant land but are still ruled by the government of their native land.the government of their native land. The voyages of Columbus signaled a turning The voyages of Columbus signaled a turning point for the Americas.point for the Americas.

A turning point is a moment in history that A turning point is a moment in history that marks a decisive change.marks a decisive change.

Columbus Reaches the AmericasColumbus Reaches the Americas

By 1511 the Spanish explored and By 1511 the Spanish explored and conquered Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and conquered Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Cuba.Cuba.

They also looked for western route to They also looked for western route to Asia.Asia.

In 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa In 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa plunged into the jungles of the Isthmus of plunged into the jungles of the Isthmus of Panama.Panama.

Ferdinand Magellan led an exploration Ferdinand Magellan led an exploration of 250 to sail across the Pacific.of 250 to sail across the Pacific.

In 1522, 1 of 5 ships & 18 sailors In 1522, 1 of 5 ships & 18 sailors returned.returned.

The Spanish Cross the PacificThe Spanish Cross the Pacific

The encounter between the peoples of The encounter between the peoples of the Eastern and Western hemispheres the Eastern and Western hemispheres sparked a global exchange of goods and sparked a global exchange of goods and ideas known as the ideas known as the Columbian ExchangeColumbian Exchange The Columbian Exchange covered a The Columbian Exchange covered a wide range of areas, including food, wide range of areas, including food, medicine, government, technology, the medicine, government, technology, the arts, and language.arts, and language.

The exchange went in both directions.The exchange went in both directions.

Europeans learned much from the Europeans learned much from the Native Americans. At the same time Native Americans. At the same time Europeans contributed in many ways to Europeans contributed in many ways to the culture of the Americans.the culture of the Americans.

A Global Cultural ExchangeA Global Cultural Exchange

Europeans introduced domestic animals Europeans introduced domestic animals such as chickens from Europe and Africa.such as chickens from Europe and Africa.

European pigs, cattle, and horses often European pigs, cattle, and horses often escaped into the wild and multiplied rapidly.escaped into the wild and multiplied rapidly.

As horses spread through North America, As horses spread through North America, Indians learned to ride them and use them to Indians learned to ride them and use them to carry heavy loads.carry heavy loads.

The first bananas came from the Canary The first bananas came from the Canary Islands.Islands.

Oranges lemons, bluegrass, daisies, Oranges lemons, bluegrass, daisies, dandelions, and figs were also new to the dandelions, and figs were also new to the Americas.Americas.

European InfluencesEuropean Influences

Tragically, Europeans also new Tragically, Europeans also new diseases, such as smallpox and diseases, such as smallpox and influenza.influenza.

Native Americans had no Native Americans had no resistance to these diseases.resistance to these diseases.

Historians estimate that within Historians estimate that within 75 years, diseases from Europe 75 years, diseases from Europe had killed almost 90 percent of the had killed almost 90 percent of the people in the Caribbean islands people in the Caribbean islands and in Mexicoand in Mexico

European InfluencesEuropean Influences

Native Americans introduced Native Americans introduced Europeans to new customs and ideas.Europeans to new customs and ideas.

Native Americans introduced Native Americans introduced Europeans to valuable food crops such Europeans to valuable food crops such as corn, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, as corn, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, squash and peanuts.squash and peanuts.

Skills were also exchanged – How to Skills were also exchanged – How to use snowshoes, How to paddle canoes, use snowshoes, How to paddle canoes, How to trap beavers.How to trap beavers.

Native American InfluencesNative American Influences