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Since the earliest times, people have speculated about the world in which they live. Inspired by curiosity, wealth, the quest for scientific knowledge, or the desire to find a better place to live, explorers have charted the Earth's surface by both land and sea.
Beginning with the epic voyage of Columbus in 1492, Europeans, in an attempt to find a western route to India, stumbled onto a continent which they hailed as a "new world." Although these explorations opened up the Western Hemisphere to European settlement, they spelled disaster for the native inhabitants of the American continent.
Places To Go
People To See Things To Do Teacher Resources Bibliography
Places To Go1492:
An Ongoing Voyage
This virtual exhibit from the US Library of Congress addresses the following questions: What was life like in the Western Hemisphere and the Mediterranean before 1492? What spurred European expansion? How did European, African and American peoples react to each other? What were some of the immediate results of these contacts? The exhibit also examines the first sustained contacts between American people and European explorers, conquerors and settlers from 1492 to 1600.
This virtual exhibit from the US Library of Congress addresses the following questions: What was life like in the Western Hemisphere and the Mediterranean before 1492? What spurred European expansion? How did European, African and American peoples react to each other? What were some of the immediate results of these contacts? The exhibit also examines the first sustained contacts between American people and European explorers, conquerors and settlers from 1492 to 1600.
A Treasure Trove
of North American Exploration
This site shows that the exploration of North America was really a long, arduous process that took place over hundreds of years. In terms of geographical discoveries, it took more than four centuries of exploration, from the time of the arrival of the first Europeans, to discover and traverse a navigable passage across North America linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans--the famous Northwest Passage.
This site shows that the exploration of North America was really a long, arduous process that took place over hundreds of years. In terms of geographical discoveries, it took more than four centuries of exploration, from the time of the arrival of the first Europeans, to discover and traverse a navigable passage across North America linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans--the famous Northwest Passage.
American
Memory: Discovery and Exploration
This site documents the discovery and exploration of the Americas with both manuscripts and published maps. These maps reflect the European Age of Discoveries, dating from the late 15th century to the 17th century when Europeans were concerned primarily with determining the outline of the continents as they explored and mapped the coastal areas and the major waterways.
This site documents the discovery and exploration of the Americas with both manuscripts and published maps. These maps reflect the European Age of Discoveries, dating from the late 15th century to the 17th century when Europeans were concerned primarily with determining the outline of the continents as they explored and mapped the coastal areas and the major waterways.
Ships of Discovery
In the last two decades, Ships of Discovery's research program has searched for, tested, and excavated several early European shipwreck sites in the Americas. At this site, you can learn more about the ships dating back to the era of Columbus--and the modern attempts to discover their remains.
In the last two decades, Ships of Discovery's research program has searched for, tested, and excavated several early European shipwreck sites in the Americas. At this site, you can learn more about the ships dating back to the era of Columbus--and the modern attempts to discover their remains.
People To SeeThe Columbus
Navigation Homepage
This site provides fascinating information about the technical data Columbus used during his explorations. This site includes explanations of dead reckoning, navigation, as well as insights into the length of a league and the importance of longitude.
This site provides fascinating information about the technical data Columbus used during his explorations. This site includes explanations of dead reckoning, navigation, as well as insights into the length of a league and the importance of longitude.
Discoverers'
Web
Discoverers' Web provides an exhaustive compilation of Web resources on every aspect of the history of exploration and discovery. The site covers pre-history through modern times, including non-western explorers.
Discoverers' Web provides an exhaustive compilation of Web resources on every aspect of the history of exploration and discovery. The site covers pre-history through modern times, including non-western explorers.
Explorers
of the Millennium
In this web site you will find many interesting facts about world explorers and the places they have traveled. You can search for more information about explorers that interest you, and then test your knowledge on the explorers you have learned about.
In this web site you will find many interesting facts about world explorers and the places they have traveled. You can search for more information about explorers that interest you, and then test your knowledge on the explorers you have learned about.
Viking
Discoverers
This site provides links to many sites about the Vikings, the first people to explore the New World.
This site provides links to many sites about the Vikings, the first people to explore the New World.
Things To DoAn
Adventure to the New World
Acting as an agent of the King and Queen, set forth on a journey to the new world to claim land, locate a new trading route, and bring back valuables. Use the links provided to create an "Explorer's Notebook" filled with information about your voyage.
Acting as an agent of the King and Queen, set forth on a journey to the new world to claim land, locate a new trading route, and bring back valuables. Use the links provided to create an "Explorer's Notebook" filled with information about your voyage.
Become
a Spice Trader
Check out this online simulation that takes you back to the Renaissance and casts you as the owner of a large sailing ship who sails around the world trading goods with other countries.
Check out this online simulation that takes you back to the Renaissance and casts you as the owner of a large sailing ship who sails around the world trading goods with other countries.
Virtual
Exploration Society
At the site of the Virtual Exploration Society, you can read about exciting true stories of explorers who have risked life and limb in the pursuit of knowledge. You can also join in various virtual explorations. Paddle down the Amazon with Percy Fawcett, drive a dogsled to the North Pole with Peary and Henson, or risk an ancient Egyptian curse with Howard Carter as he opens the Tomb of King.
At the site of the Virtual Exploration Society, you can read about exciting true stories of explorers who have risked life and limb in the pursuit of knowledge. You can also join in various virtual explorations. Paddle down the Amazon with Percy Fawcett, drive a dogsled to the North Pole with Peary and Henson, or risk an ancient Egyptian curse with Howard Carter as he opens the Tomb of King.
Voyages
of Exploration: Discovering New Horizons
Journey through past centuries looking at the world's greatest explorers and reliving their adventurous expeditions into the unknown. You can learn about early explorers, the navigational systems they used, or specific expeditions. It may take awhile to load, but this site is definitely worth the wait!
Journey through past centuries looking at the world's greatest explorers and reliving their adventurous expeditions into the unknown. You can learn about early explorers, the navigational systems they used, or specific expeditions. It may take awhile to load, but this site is definitely worth the wait!
Teacher ResourcesThe Age
of Exploration Curriculum Guide
Teachers can use this curriculum guide in a variety of ways. The curriculum weaves together visual images, video, and text, as well as materials that can be downloaded or printed for transparencies, presentations, or reports. It includes lesson plans, vocabulary, links to related web sites, and guides to other reference materials.
Teachers can use this curriculum guide in a variety of ways. The curriculum weaves together visual images, video, and text, as well as materials that can be downloaded or printed for transparencies, presentations, or reports. It includes lesson plans, vocabulary, links to related web sites, and guides to other reference materials.
Virtual Field Trips are teacher and student-created
tours of curricular topics. (You can learn how to use this UEN Virtual
Field Trip tool created by UEN for Utah educators).
Bibliography- Adler, David A. A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus. Holiday House, 1992.
- De Kay, James T. De Kay. Meet Christopher Columbus (Step-Up Biographies). Random House, 1989.
- Fritz, Jean. Around the World in a Hundred Years: From Henry the Navigator to Magellan. Putnam, 1994.
- Fritz, Jean. Where do you think You're Going Christopher Columbus? G.P. Putnams Sons, 1980.
- Grant, Neil. The Discoverers. Arco Publishing Inc, 1979.
- Guy, J.A. Drake & the 16Th-Century Explorers (Great Explorer Series). Barrons Juveniles, 1998.
- Kemoun, Hubert Ben, et al. The Adventures of the Great Explorers (Megascope Series). Barrons Juveniles, 1999.
- Krensky, Stephen. Christopher Columbus (Step into Reading, a Step 2 Book). Random House, 1991.
- Maestro, Betsy, and Giuhio Maestro. Exploration and Conquest: the Americas After Columbus: 1500-1620. Mulberry Books, 1994
- Marzollo, Jean and Steven Bjorkman. In 1492. Scholastic Trade, 1993.
- Sis, Peter. Follow the Dream. Dragonfly, 1996.
- Starkey, Dinah. Scholastic Atlas of Exploration. Scholastic, 1993.