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Houston Institute for Culture: Early Texas History: Spanish Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Cabeza de Vaca, one of the first Europeans to extensively explore Texas after an accidental landing at Galveston Island.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Exploring the Early Americas: Competition for Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of a larger site, the primary sources here deal with the competition among the European countries in establishing a foothold in the New World.
Article
British Library

British Library: Discovering Literature: Travel, Trade and Exploration in the Middle Ages

For Students 9th - 10th
Medieval Europeans were fascinated by the lands that lay beyond their own continent. This article looks at the real and imaginary travels of explorers and tradesmen through works including The Book of John Mandeville, The Travels of...
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EL Education

El Education: A Buccaneer's Guide to the Age of Exploration

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A Buccaneer's Guide to the Age of Exploration depicts European world-wide exploration and exploitation through a collage-style book of text, hand-drawn and water-colored illustrations, maps, timelines, and diagrams. The book chronicles...
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Literature of Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
Had history taken a different turn, the United States easily could have been a part of the great Spanish or French overseas empires. Its present inhabitants might speak Spanish and form one nation with Mexico, or speak French and be...
Unit Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Hernando Cortes 1485 1547

For Students 5th - 7th
Furnished is a brief summary of the life and explorations of Spanish explorer, Hernando Cortes. Take a look at the photos and maps of his journey of what today is called Mexico.
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Digital History

Digital History: European Commercial and Financial Expansion

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting look at the support for Portuguese exploration by the bankers of Germany and Italy. See how Christopher Columbus' desires for riches was stoked by Portuguese trading posts in the Atlantic.
Handout
Other

Exploring the Atlantic World: 1450 1850: Conversion Tactics

For Students 9th - 10th
The Europeans tried to convert Native Americans to Christianity in a variety of ways ranging from the brutal force methods of the conquistadors to acceptance of the other's spirituality and way of life.
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ibiblio

Ibiblio: Expanding Horizons

For Students 9th - 10th
IBiblio.org offers insight to the science, beliefs, and technologies of 15th and 16th century Europeans. Provides excellent images and examples.
Interactive
Other

An Exploration of Historic Prejudice: The Italians

For Students 9th - 10th
Some Italians came to British Columbia during the gold rush and the building of the CPR. They began to arrive in earnest beginning in 1898 to build the B.C. Southern Railway. They suffered from prejudice from English-speaking Europeans....
Website
University of Calgary

European Voyages of Exploration: Portugal

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides an in-depth historical detail on the rise of Portuguese trade and exploration. Special attention is given to the history of the Portuguese monarchy and the conditions that led to the nation's rise in power. Further...
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University of Calgary

European Voyages of Exploration: Henry the Navigator

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a well-written account of Prince Henry's adventurous personality that led him to become one of Portugal's most famous explorers. Discusses the economic benefits of Portugal's exploration and trade. Note: This tutorial...
Activity
Cengage Learning

Literature of Discovery and Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
Teaching approach that examines the writings of European New World explorers from the late 1400s through the 1600s. Includes Christopher Columbus, Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, Rene Goulaine de Laudonniere, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Fray...
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: The Conquest of America

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Consider these resources while illustrating the natives' response to Europeans settling into the Americas.
Article
Bullock Texas State History Museum

Bullock Museum: American Indians

For Students 9th - 10th
Immerse in the campfire stories of the people who defined Texas. Find out about how the two Americas: the Europeans' version, and the American Indians' version, started changing forever.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Mapping Initial Encounters

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Columbus' arrival laid the basis for encounters between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans. This unit examines how these contacts altered the way of life of peoples around the globe.
Handout
The British Museum

British Museum: Explore World Cultues: Medieval Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the art of medieval Europe in this historical overview and image gallery with detailed descriptions of each object, from the collection of the British Museum.
Handout
The British Museum

British Museum: Explore World Cultures: Iron Age

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the art of the Iron Age in this historical overview and image gallery with detailed descriptions of each piece, from the collection of the British Museum.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1491 1607: Environmental/health Effects in New World

For Students 9th - 10th
European arrival in the Americas decimated both indigenous people and previously-flourishing ecosystems.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: The French, American Beginnings: 1492 1690

For Students 9th - 10th
Three maps reflecting French exploration along rivers in North America and three French explorers' accounts of the astonishing hardships they endured and the possibilities for trade with natives they opened.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Failed Colonies, American Beginnings: 1492 1690

For Students 9th - 10th
Three European accounts of the disappointments, challenges, and outright failures to establish early successful colonial outposts in North America.
Article
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: The Spanish, American Beginnings: 1492 1690

For Students 9th - 10th
Two maps and four accounts of the Spanish exploration of North America that reflect the goals of the conquistadors and fascination with the land they examined-and the brutality of their treatment of native peoples.
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Age of Exploration: Christopher Columbus

For Students 9th - 10th
The story of Christopher Columbus, of how he became an explorer, his encounter with the Arawak people in the Caribbean, and the exaggerated tales he told the King and Queen of Spain when he returned to Europe.
Website
PBS

Pbs Nova: The Vikings

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site, a companion to the NOVA program on PBS, examines the Vikings and whether or not their reputation as "barbarians" is founded. Content includes a look at a Viking Village, the Norse people, Viking ships, the Viking alphabet, and...

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