AGE OF EXPLORATION

Empires, Explorers, and Routes

EMPIRES BEFORE
EXPLORATION
Aztec
• Established by nomadic tribes around 1200 CE
• Capital: Tenochtitlan
• Economy was dominated by agriculture
(chinampas)
• By 1400s, expanded across Mexico
• Population of 5 million to 6 million people
Inca
• Established in the 1100s CE
• Capital: Cuzco
• By the 1440s, emperor ruled over almost 10 Million
people
• Everything belonged to the Emperor
• Common language, religion, and a system of roads
united the empire.
Mali
• Established around 1235 BCE
• Trading cities of gold and salt
• Expanded to its greatest extent under
Mansa Musa
• Known for its great wealth and
intellectual movements
Songhai
• Established in the 1460s
• Capital: Gao
• Expanded under emperor Askia Muhammad,
strengthened its government
• Prosperous trading state
EXPLORERS AND THEIR
ROUTES
Vasco da Gama
Who did
they sail Portugal
for?

When? 1497

Where
did they Found sea route to India
go?
Impact Helped Portugal secure ports in India Ocean for spice
trade
Vasco da Gama’s Route
Christopher Columbus
Who did Columbus is Italian, but sails for Spain
they sail Sponsored by Ferdinand and Isabella
for?

When? 1492

Lands in the Caribbean Islands which he thought were the

Where? East Indies

Brings wealth to Spain

Impact Puts the Americas on the map for Europeans
Columbus’ Route
Ferdinand Magellan
Who did
they sail Spain
for?

When? 1519-1521

Where did Coast of South America

they go?

Discovers path to the Pacific Ocean through Chile–Strait of

Magellan
Impact Crew circumnavigates the globe
Murdered in the Philippines
Magellan’s Route
Strait of Magellan
Hernando Cortez
Who did
they sail Spain
for?

When? 1513-1519

Where did Mexico

they go? Conquered the Aztecs

Launched deadly attack on Aztec Empire

Impact
Smallpox kills much of the native population
Cortez Route
Francisco Pizarro
Who did
they sail Spain
for?

When? 1530s

Where did South America

they go? Conquers the Incan Empire

Spanish weapons and European diseases destroy

Impact much of the Incan Empire
Most of South America falls under Spanish control
Francisco Pizarro’s Route
Francis Drake
Who did
they sail England
for?

When? 1560s-1570s

Where did
Northwest modern day US
they go?

Second one to circumnavigate the globe

Impact
Raided Spanish ships for gold
Drake’s Routes
Jacques Cartier
Who did
they sail France
for?

When? 1530s-1540s

Where
did they St. Lawrence River Valley
go?

Impact Claims Canada for France

Cartier’s Route