Who led the Age of Exploration?

Step 1: Go to the ArcGIS Online map, Early European Exploration, and explore the map.

• What kingdoms were located on the Iberian Peninsula?

Step 2: Open and read the map note off the coast of Portugal.

• Why did Portugal become the early leader of exploration?

Where did Portugal explore?

Step 3: Open and read the map note near West Africa.

Step 4: Why had no one explored past Cape Bojador?

Step 5: With the Details button depressed, click the button, Contents.

Step 6: Click the checkbox to the left of the layer name, Early Portuguese Routes.

Step 7: Click the button, Bookmarks. Choose Southern.

Step 8: Click on each route to answer the following questions.

• Who sailed past Cape Bojador, and in what year?
• Who sailed to the southern tip of Africa, and in what year?

Step 10: Open and read the map note near the southern tip of Africa.

• Why do you think Portugal changed the name?

Where did Spain explore?

Step 11: Click the button, Bookmarks. Select Western.

Step 12: Turn off the layer, Early Portuguese Routes.

Step 13: Turn on the layer, Spain’s First Voyage.

Step 14: Click the red line.

• Who explored for Spain, and in which direction?

Step 15: Click the button, Bookmarks. Select Landfall.

• Where did Columbus make landfall?

Why was a line drawn in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?

Step 16: Click the button, Bookmarks. Select Treaty.

Step 17: Turn on the layer, Line of Demarcation.

Step 18: Click the line and read the pop-up.

• Which country had the right to land east of the line? West of the line?

Step 19: Turn on the layer, Early Exploration Routes, 1493-1524.

Step 20: Click the button, Bookmarks. Select Race to Asia.

Step 21: Click each route and ask the following questions.

• Who was the first to reach Asia by sea? Country?

Step 22: Click the line for any Columbus’ voyages, and view the bar graph.

• What spatial patterns do you notice? Possible explanations?

Step 23: Open and read the map note off the coast of Brazil.

• Who are the Americas named after? Why?

How did these expeditions affect the world?

Step 24: Click the button, Bookmarks. Select Asia.

Step 25: Turn on the layer, Africa, and Asian Port Cities.

• What patterns do you notice?

Step 26: Click the button, Bookmark. Select the Americas.

Step 27: Turn on the layer, European Claims, 1700.

• Which countries had claims in the Americas by 1700?
• What other ways will European impact the Americas, Africa, and Asia?