Age of Exploration Reading Passages | European Explorers Reading Comprehension

European Explorers | Age of Exploration | Explorers Passages, Questions, and Annotations

This resource contains 5 Engaging, Non-Fiction Reading Comprehension Passages with Directions for Student Annotations! Reading Comprehension Questions also included!

Part of US History Reading Passages

Questions & Answer Keys for Each of the 5 Reading Passages!

COMMON CORE ALIGNED!

Quick overview of topics covered in this resource include:

1.) Exploration and the Age of Discovery

-15th century – 17th century period, overview of the Silk Road and motivation for discovery of new cultures, inventions, and European trade.

-locations of major trade routes

-Famous explorers during this period Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco de Gama, etc.

2.) Tools for the Age of Discovery

Overview of how explorers used different types of tools and their purposes.

-Description of a compass and how it is used

-Description of the astrolabe and octant and how they are used

-Description of sextant and how it is used

-Description of chronometer and how it is used

-Description of gunpowder and how it is used

Keywords: compass, astrolabe, sextant, chronometer, gunpowder

3.) Marco Polo and The Description of the World

Overview of Marco Polo and his life, known for his story telling

-How he spent 17 years in China and became friends with Kublai Khan.

-How he discovered paper money, printing, and gunpowder in China

Overview of his writings: The Description of the World, The Book of Marvels, and The Travels of Marco Polo

-Description of how mapmakers used his books to create drawings and maps of routes for expeditions

-His writing created an interest in exploring Asia, it also had details about the Silk Road

4.) Trade, Exploration, and the Silk Road

-Overview of the Silk Road, growth of trading during 1400’s

-made up of both land and water routes.

-European merchants traveled to purchase silk and spices from China. Discovered new inventions

-List of exploration tools and how they were used

-Overview of what was traded in different locations (China: silk, tea, gunpowder spices, etc. / India: Ginger, sandalwood, cane, sugar, gold / Europe: silver, gold, jewels, metals, walnuts/ Africa: Salt, gold, etc).

-traded news and information as well as goods.

Keywords: The Silk Road

5.) Columbus, Magellan, and Hernàn Cortés

-Overview of Christopher Columbus, the Spanish Reconquista, and his first voyage.

-Description of how the Spanish Reconquista had an impact on Christopher Columbus.

-Description of where the European sailors landed during the first voyage (who they met and where they thought they were instead)

-Overview of Ferdinand Magellan and how his crew was able to circumnavigate the world. (Unfortunately he was killed in Asia and was not part of the crew to return to Spain)

-Overview of Hernan Cortes and his expedition to Mexico for gold in 1519.

-Claimed all of Mexico and defeated Aztec empire.

Keywords: the Spanish Reconquista, circumnavigation, Aztec Empire

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Explorers | Age of Exploration Interactive Notebooks

Explorers| Age of Exploration Interactive PowerPoints

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Early Americans | First Americans | Native Americans Interactive PowerPoints

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