The First Visitors From Europe

3. The First Visitors From Europe • Vikings originally came from Scandinavia and landed in America around 1001 • Leif Erikson and others settled Vinland

4. Columbus began his voyages thinking he could reach Asia by the sailing the Atlantic. • Was Italian, lived in Portugal, sailed for Spain • Columbus and crew left August 1492 on three ships (Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria) • Expected to be at sea 21 days; reached land October 12, 1492 • Thought he was in India; called natives “Indians” • Visited Cuba before returning to Spain

6. Columbus was made governor of all territory claimed • Sailed again to colonize portions of he territory and convert them to Christianity • Believed he had found Asia until the day he died

7. Continuing Search for Asia • Italian, Amerigo Vespucci followed Columbus’ route but knew the land was not Asia • The land was called “America” after Vespucci • Vasco Nunez de Balboa of Spain explored the Caribbean coast • Became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean

9. Ferdinand Megellan of Portugal set out to find an Atlantic-Pacific passage • Found a narrow passage connecting the two bodies of water, called a strait, at the southern tip of South America • Reached the Philippines, where he was killed • Members of his crew became the first to circumnavigate, or travel around, the earth

11. Columbian Exchange • Trips led to the Columbian Exchange, a transfer of people, products, and ideas between hemispheres • Positives: cows, hogs, wheat, oats • Negatives: smallpox, chickenpox, measles