Explorers and Conquistadors Unit 4, SSWH 10 a Conquistador and Explorer • Conquistador: Spanish soldiers, explorers, & fortune hunters who took part in the conquest of the Americas in the 16th century. • Explorer: a person who travels in search of geographical or scientific information. Zheng He, 1430s • Chinese Muslim admiral, led 7 expeditions • Chinese emperor, Youglo, wanted the world to see China’s greatness • Traveled from Southeast Asia to eastern Africa • Some foreign countries paid tribute to China, & all received Chinese gifts • After the 7th expedition China withdrew into isolation Christopher Columbus, 1492 • Spanish wanted a direct route to Asia • October, discovered an island in the Caribbean “East Indies” • Opened the way for European colonization of the Americas • Increased tensions between Spain & Portugal • Treaty of Tordesillas: Agreement of both countries & what land they could have (imaginary line North & South) Vasco da Gama, 1497 • Portuguese explorer – explored the east African coast • In 1498, reached Calicut (India) • Returned to Portugal, 1499, brought back cargo 60 times the cost of the voyage • Discovered a direct route to India Ferdinand Magellan, 1519 • Portuguese explorer, sailed for Spain to discover the new ocean (Pacific) • Sailed around the southern tip of South America • Eventually, reached the Philippines 1521 • Magellan died in the Philippines (local war) & his crew returned home 1522 • First group to circumnavigate (sail around) the world Samuel de Champlain, 1608 • French explorer went into the New York harbor & sailed up the St. Lawrence River. • He & 32 colonists found Quebec, which became the base for French colonies - “New France” James Cook, 1769 •British sea captain, claimed New Zealand and part of Australia for England .