The Age of Discovery

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By Richard Tam

Target Audience
This lesson would be most suitable for high school students in the 9th10th grade.

Objectives
Without any further references, students will identify the causes that
led to the Age of Discovery, recognize the significant figures from this
era, and reiterate the historical results from this time period to the
point where they recognize all key words and concepts.

Benefits of the Lesson

Students will develop a better understanding of what led to the Age
of Discovery, which countries and peoples were most involved, and
the significance of the entire event.

Introduction

The Age of Discovery was a time where two worlds collided the Old World and the New World. The contact
between these two drastically different worlds led to a variety of changes that impacted the world as we know it.

What Led to the Age of Discovery?

There were a variety of key factors that led to the Age of Discovery. Explore these
factors by clicking any of the pictures below.

Economic
Incentives and
Necessity

Technological
Advancements

Political Unity and

Initiatives

Economic Incentives and Necessities

In 1453, the city of
Constantinople fell to Ottoman
Turks.
Europes access to the Orient
was cut off by the fall of this
strategic city.
Countries all over Europe
suffered economically because
this disruption of trade.
Prices for certain goods were
higher because there was a
great demand for them. As such,
there was an economic incentive
to find a new route to the
Orient.

Back to
other
causes

Technological Advancements
There were several significant
technologies that made it possible to
explore during that time.
The magnetic compass helped sailors
determine their direction.
The astrolabe was a navigation tool
that helped find latitude.
Various advances in shipbuilding
helped create faster and better ships
that could sail into open ocean easier
than their predecessors.

Political Unity and Initiatives

Political powers became more centralized
and were able to focus on certain tasks
more easily.
Various political leaders helped their
countries expand exploration initiatives.
Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal
encouraged and financed various missions
of exploration in order to expand trade.
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of
Spain financed the expedition of
Christopher Columbus.

Famous Explorers
During the Age of Discovery, various explorers were sent on missions to
discovery certain things. Some of the greatest explorers of that time are listed
below. Click on the links below to learn more about them.

Vasco da Gama

Christopher Columbus

Ferdinand Magellan

Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama was the first European
explorer to successfully reach India by
a sea route.
Because of his discovery, the country
of Portugal managed to reestablish
trade with Orient.
Since they were one of the only
countries that managed to obtain
goods from the Orient, Portugal
became quite wealthy.
Click to watch Gamas route

Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was a
Genoese explorer that was
sponsored by King Ferdinand and
Queen Isabella of Spain to find a
route to the Orient.
Columbus hoped to accomplish
this task by sailing west across
the Atlantic. Although he
eventually reached land, he was
not anywhere near the Orient.
Columbus is often credited for
discovering the New World.

Click to watch Columbus route

Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a
Portuguese explorer.
He is most famous for being
leading a Spanish expedition
that circumnavigated the
globe, a feat that had never
had accomplished before.
Although Magellan did not
survive the voyage, his
contribution to exploration
was quite significant.

Click to watch Magellans route

The Conquistadors
After the initial contact with the
Americas by Christopher Columbus, it
was eventually realized that there were
entirely new continents across the
Atlantic.
Because Spain was the first to discovery
the New World, they were the first to act.
Spain sent soldiers and explorers known
as conquistadors to discovery the
potential of the New World.

How they Conquered

The very word conquistador means conqueror, and thats just what they did. But how did
the conquistadors manage to conquer the New World? Below are the various reasons why.

Technology

Disease

Technology
The conquistadors simply had superior
military technology.
Guns were both efficient killing
weapons and shocking to the Native
Americans. They had never
experienced guns before.
Horses were also a useful military
resource. Again, the Native Americans
had never even seen horses before.
Although many Native American
peoples were quite skilled with
precious metals such as gold and silver,
they did not have steel. The
conquistadors had steel that offered
them better weapons and armor.

Disease
Disease was by far the most
devastating weapon against the
Native Americans.
The natives did not have any
immunities to European
diseases.
Native American populations
were decimated by these
diseases.

Famous Conquistadors
Although there were many conquistadors, the most famous ones are
listed below. Follow the links to learn about their conquests.
Hernn Corts

Francisco Pizarro

Hernn Corts
Click to watch Corts route

Hernn Corts was a Spanish

conquistador.
He and his men conquered the
Aztec Empire
After conquering, Corts
became governor of what was
then called New Spain. Corts
built Mexico City on the ruins
of Aztec civilization.
To Video

Hernan Cortes Video

Francisco Pizarro
Click to watch Pizarros route

Francisco Pizarro was a

Spanish conquistador.
He and his men conquered the
Incan Empire.
Pizarro went on to found the
city of Lima and was
eventually assassinated by the
son of one former allies.

Results of the Age of Discovery

The Age of Discovery led to many things that changed the world. Discover
what these things were by following the links below.

Columbian Exchange

Colonization

Impact on the Natives

Columbian Exchange
The Columbian
Exchange was the
exchange of goods
between the New
World and the Old
World.
It was named after
Christopher
Columbus.

Colonization
The Age of Discovery led to
the colonization of the
New World by multiple
European countries.
Even today, many
countries are heavily
influenced by their colonial
past.

Impact on Natives
Although the Native Americans were
exposed to new ideas, technologies, and
trade goods, they were also exposed to
diseases which killed many of them.
Many Native Americans died in combat
as well.
Native Americans also tended to lose
their land to Europeans. Enslavement
was common in some parts of the
Americas as well as general
mistreatment and racism.

Quiz
Click on the following links for questions over the material.
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6

Question 7

Question 1
True or False Economic necessity, technological advances, and
political unity were all factors that led to the Age of Discovery.

True

False

Question 2
Which of the following explorers was NOT prominent during the Age
of Discovery
A. Marco Polo
B. Christopher Columbus
C. Ferdinand Magellan
D. Vasco da Gama

Question 3
How did the conquistadors conquer the New World? Pick the BEST answer below.
A. Racial superiority
B. Steel
C. Guns
D. Horses

E. Diseases
F. All of the Above
G. A combination of B, C, D, and E.

Question 4
True or False Tomatoes, potatoes, and corn were originally from Europe. Prior
to the Age of Discovery and the Columbian Exchange, the Americas did not have
these crops.

True

False

Correct!

Incorrect
Try again!

Question 5
Imagine being a Native American during the Age of Discovery. How
would you feel about the European settlers? What were the negative
effects of European settlers? Were there any benefits at all? Write
your thoughts in the text box provided below.

Question 6
How do you think the conquistadors and other Europeans justified
the conquering, enslavement, and mistreatment of Native
Americans? Write your thoughts in the text box provided below?

Question 7
Several European powers ended up colonizing the New World. These
countries include Spain, Portugal, England, France and even more.
What were the reasons for colonizing the New World? Why was
having colonies so important and beneficial? Write your thoughts in
the text box provided below.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the Age of
Discovery was important
for many reasons. The
discoveries made during
this time changed the
world. It also partially
explains why the Americas
today are they way that
they are.

References

http://ilikewalls.com/ship-clip-art-black-and-white-1.html (ship)

http://www.gallery.oldbookart.com/main.php?g2_itemId=13656&g2_imageViewsIndex=3 (map)

http://www.computerclipart.com/computer_clipart_images/silhouetted_scales_0071-0901-1123-5545.html
(scale)

http://sciencedialogues.com/?page_id=21 (scribe)

http://www.artofanderson.com/map-of-constantinople-byzantium-empire/ (Constantinople map)

http://www.clker.com/clipart-10354.html (compass)

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/20500/20583/astrolabe_20583.htm (astrolabe)

http://sa-jin-gi.deviantart.com/art/Shipbuilding-Clipart-402927492 (ship building)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_the_Navigator (Prince Henry the Navigator)

http://lostislamichistory.com/spains-forgotten-muslims-the-expulsion-of-the-moriscos/ (Queen Isabella and King

Ferdinand)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gama (Vasco da Gama)

http://www.biography.com/people/christopher-columbus-9254209 (Christopher Columbus)

http://www.biography.com/people/ferdinand-magellan-9395202 (Magellan)

https://eternalexploration.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/geographical-heroes-vasco-da-gama/ (Vasco da Gamas

route)

http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/art-88703 (Christopher Columbuss route)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magellan's_voyage_EN.svg (Magellans route)

http://malinche.info/blog/?p=273 (conquistador)
http://www.discoverseaz.com/History/CorExped.html (mounted conquistador)
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Death_skull.svg (skull)
http://www.clipartpanda.com/categories/free-scroll-clipart-for-wedding-invitations (politics)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquistador (conquistador musketman)
http://www.freeallimages.com/horse-clipart/ (horse)
http://www.clipartsupply.com/index.php/mascot-clipart/conquistador-clipart.html
(conquistador clipart)
http://www.biography.com/people/hern%C3%A1n-cort%C3%A9s-9258320 (Hernan Cortes)
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Pizarro (Francisco Pizarro)
http://www.glogster.com/kprebel12/hernando-cortes/g-6ml7fh6og9tq2d157ton7a0 (Cortes
Conquest route)
http://apwh.pbworks.com/w/page/7624502/Francisco%20Pizzaro%20-%20Incas (Pizzaro
Conquestion route)
http://www.clipartbest.com/small-clip-art-free (exchange)
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/galleries/128-1607-1762-colonial-america (colonization)
http://bestclipartblog.com/27-native-american-clip-art.html/native-american-clip-art-10
(Native American)
http://190152612307854813.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/6/8/12683649/4918639_orig.jpg?450
(Columbian Exchange)
http://www.transpacificproject.com/index.php/european-exploration-and-colonization/
(Colonization)
http://www.nativevillage.org/Archives/2012/October%202012%20News/1Native_americans_
as_slaves.htm (Native American enslavement)
http://classroom.synonym.com/deaths-caused-diseases-among-native-americans-18thcentury-16655.html (Native Americans and Europeans)
http://skokielibrary.info/s_kids/kd_teachers/kd_tc_resources/kd_tc_homework/exploration/i
ndex.asp (ship)
http://www.clipartpanda.com/categories/ship-clip-art (ship used in animation)