In this Age of Exploration unit on "A Changing World" and "Early Exploration," we explored the following topics:
The seven continents and five oceans of the world
Important European countries and cities
How European explorers during the Age of Explorations were motivated by the 3 Gs - Gold, God and Glory!
Marco Polo (1200s) and the printing press (c. 1450)
Silk Road trading between Asia, Europe and Africa
The impact that the rise of Islam in the Middle East and northern Africa had on European exploration
The improvements in technology that aided exploration - better ship design (e.g. caravels), improved navigational instruments (e.g. the compass, astroblabe) and more accurate maps
The West African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and Songhai who traded across the Sahara desert with Arab merchants and along the west coast of Africa with Portuguese sailors
The contributions of Portugal to early exploration
Bartolomeu Dias (1487) and Vasco da Gama's (14897) voyages seeking a sea route to Asia around the southernmost tip of Africa (the Cape of Good Hope)
The details and impact of Christopher Columbus' first voyage to the Americas in 1492
The Columbian Exchange and its effects
The Line of Demarcation and the Treaty of Tordesillas dividing the Americas between Spain and Portugal
The claim to fame of explorers like Amerigo Vespucci and Ferdinand Magellan
To prepare for your Age of Exploration Part 1 Test, you should re-visit and review the following documents and activities:
Continents and Oceans Mapping Activity (Activity Book, click link for online practice)
Europe Mapping Activity (Activity Book, click link for online practice)
Key Terms and People Document (Google Doc assigned in Classroom)
Why Explore? Readings and Notes (click the link for readings, shared group notes in Google Classroom)
West African Kingdoms Chart (Activity Book)
Dias and Da Gama Brain Frame (Activity Book, click the link for Answer Key)
Written Response Practice: Innovations and Exploration (Google Doc assigned in Classroom)
History vs Columbus Video and Pro/Con Chart (Click link for video, Activity Book)
Columbian Exchange Sorting Activity and Games (Click the link for Answer Key and online games, Activity Book)
Quizlets for the Age of Exploration and the Columbian Exchange
BrainPOP videos - Silk Road, Marco Polo, Columbus, Columbian Exchange
Socrative Weekly Wash-ups