The Age of Encounters

Countries on Europe's Atlantic Coast were competing heavily for wealth and power. Portugal, England, Spain and France sent explorers to America, at the time, known as the "New World." In 1488 a ship from Portugal sailed around the southern tip of Africa while in 1492, Spain sent a ship that sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. The first person to realize that America had been a continent was a man named Amerigo Vespucci. He is the one that called America "A new world" and later, America was named after him in honor of his discovery.

One explorer that explored America was Christopher Columbus. He was paid by Spain to sail across the Atlantic Ocean for a trade route to India. Unknowingly though, he instead discovered America. When he landed on the East Coast of America he met the Taíno people. Columbus's Voyage to the Americas increased Europe's interest in exploration and led to many other voyages and colonies.

John Cabot was another explorer that sailed through the North Atlantic Ocean in 1497. Cabot thought that he had landed in Asia as well, but instead, he landed in what is now currently known as Canada. His extreme voyage was important because it ensured that a northern route to America, or the "New World" was possible. Similarly to Columbus, he met Native Americans as well. Cabot did not meet the Taino people though. Instead he met the Eastern Woodland Native Americans.

Another Explorer was Pedro Alvares Cabral. Cabral sailed for Portugal in 1500. Cabral was supposed to take 13 ships to India for trade. Cabral's plan was to sail around Africa to India. Unfortunately, his misdirection caused him to go completely off course. He instead journeyed to the coast of South America. There, he met the Tupinquim people.

Jacquez Cartier was another explorer that was paid by France to explore. Cartier sailed up rivers of what was the "New World but is now known as Canada. During Cartier's Journey he met the Mi'kmoq people of Canada.

The last explorer was Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. was an explorer that sailed to Mexico that was sailing and expedition for Spain in 1540. He was tasked to find the cities of Cibola, which were said to be filled with great treasures. Coronado discovered many things on his expedition. HE discovered the Grand Canyon, found countless America Indian Villages, but sadly, none of them had gold.  Coronado passed through what is now known as Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, the Oklahoma panhandle, and entered Kansas at around Liberal.