Early Explorers and Map Early Explorers and Map SkillsSkills

ASIAASIAEUROPEEUROPENORTH AMERICANORTH AMERICA

SOUTHSOUTH AMERICAAMERICA

AFRICAAFRICA

ANTARCTICAANTARCTICA

AUSTRALIAAUSTRALIA

Atla

ntic

Atla

ntic O

cean

Oce

an

Pacific OceanPacific Ocean

Indian OceanIndian Ocean

Arctic OceanArctic Ocean

North North AmericaAmerica

We live on the continent of North America. We live on the continent of North America. Can you name the countries on our Can you name the countries on our continent?continent?

United States

Canada

Mexico

Atlant

ic O

cean

Pacific

Ocean

EnglandEngland

SpainSpain

FranceFrance

ItalyItaly

SpainSpain

FranceFrance

EnglandEngland

ItalyItaly

The VikingsThe Vikings•The earliest European explorers were the Vikings (from what is known today as Scandinavia).•Much of what we know today about their adventures comes from sagas.•Sagas are tales that originated in Iceland and have been passed down.

Historians believe that the Vikings were the first Europeans to reach the Americas, about 1,000 years ago.

Early Explorers• Eric the Red – Sailed from

Iceland and landed on an island that he named Greenland.

• Leif Ericson – son of Eric the Red; reached Newfoundland.– Probably the first European to

reach North America

Northwest Passage• Explorers were looking

for an all water route to get to Asia.

• They thought that they could travel along the north coast of North America. They never found this Northwest Passage.

John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto)• Sponsor: England• Wanted to find a

direct route to Asia• Small ships, poor

weather, and poor maps were obstacles

• Explored the coast of North America and Newfoundland

• Claimed North America for England

Voyages of John Cabot

Giovanni da Verrazano

• Sent by king of France to find the Northwest Passage.

• Established French claims to land in Canada.

Jacques Cartier• Cartier sailed for

France.• Looking for the

Northwest passage to the Indies.

• Explored the St. Lawrence River in Canada.

• Reached a town called Hochelaga and called it Mont Réal, French for “royal mountain”.

Jacques Cartier’s Voyage

FranceFranceSt. Lawrence River