The Age of Discovery and Exploration or Exploitation and Imperialism?

Due Friday, October 19, 2012

Now that you have looked at the era from both sides, should the era be called the Age of Exploration and Discovery or the Age of Exploitation and Imperialism? In this week’s blog, you will join the argument that scholars have been debating over the past three or more decades. Some historians maintain that it was the “desire” to venture forth across the Atlantic Ocean and ascertain what laid beyond the horizon that brought about the Age of European dominance. Meanwhile, other historians maintain that is was the manipulation and extension of European control in the new lands that allowed Europeans to gain world-wide dominance.

In this week’s blog, you are required to present evidence of an event or person which demonstrates whether the era should be called the Age of Exploration & Discovery or Exploitation & Imperialism. No you can not claim it is both! You must make a choice for one or the other!
Do not repeat or use an event or person that has already been used by another student. Like in the previous weeks, you must offer new evidence to the discussion.

Important Exception: If someone uses Columbus as evidence of exploration, you can use Columbus as evidence of exploitation in your initial post (The same holds true for the other “explorers”)!

The following resources will be helpful in completing this assignment.
    The Age of Discovery
    http://www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture2c.html

    Classic Imperialism
    http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0858768.html

    Age of Discovery
    http://geography.about.com/od/historyofgeography/a/ageexploration.htm
 
    Undiscovering the New World
    http://www.larrydewitt.net/Coloquio/NewWorld.htm

    Digital History: Exploration and Discovery
    http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/subtitles.cfm?titleID=96

The Age of Exploitation and Imperialism?

The Age of Exploitation and Imperialism?

Due October 4, 2012

According to various online dictionaries, exploitation is the selfish utilization of others for one’s own purposes while imperialism is defined as the act of gaining control over an other’s lands: politically, economically and socially. Keeping these definitions in mind continue with the following blog.

During the early 15th century until the late 17th century, Europeans took the the seas in search of new products, markets and land. As these intrepid sailors spanned the globe; new lands, cultures and peoples were “discovered” that were foreign to the European way of life. Europe went from being a small, barbaric and backward continent to becoming the premier power and center of the world marketplace and culture.

Many historians, particularly the late Dr. Howard Zinn saw this transformation of Europe as the result of the conquest of the New World, Africa and Asia for their own selfish purposes! These historians claim that the empires created by European monarchies allowing them to accumulate vast amounts of wealth and power came at the expense of the indigenous people in the areas.

For this blog, each student will research an “explorer” and make a case for their role in helping make this Age of Exploitation and Imperialism. Remember each “explorer” should only be covered by one student only (you do not have to use the same person as the last blog!), thus  if someone has already done a particular “explorer” then you must now choose a different person (the earlier you do the blog the more choices you will have of subject!). Remember you are required to do an initial post (your subject) and then comment on at least two other posts to meet the requirements of the assignment (please refer to your rubric!). The following links are made available to assist you in preparing your initial blog post. These entries offer a thumbnail sketch of the various “explorers” and will require students to do further research. Remember to cite all sources that you use in your initial and subsequent posts. Wikipedia or any wikis are never acceptable sources!

(You Must Read This First)
Columbus, The Indians and Human Progress
    http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinncol1.html

    •    Acuña, Cristóbal de, Spanish Jesuit missionary and explorer in South America
    •    Alarcón, Hernando de, Spanish explorer in the Southwest
    •    Anza, Juan Bautista de, Spanish explorer and official in the Southwest and the far West
    •    Balboa, Vasco Núñez de, Spanish conquistador, discoverer of the Pacific Ocean
    •    Cárdenas, García López de, Spanish explorer in the Southwest.
    •    Cabeza de Vaca, Álvar Núñez, Spanish explorer
    •    Cabot, John, English explorer
    •    Cabot, Sebastian, explorer in English and Spanish service
    •    Cabral, Pedro,   Portuguese explorer
    •    Cabrillo, Juan Rodríguez, Spanish conquistador and discoverer of California
    •    Cartier, Jacques, French navigator
    •    Champlain, Samuel de, French explorer, the chief founder of New France
    •    Columbus, Christopher, European explorer
    •    Coronado, Francisco Vásquez de, Spanish explorer
    •    Cortés, Hernán, Spanish conquistador
    •    da Gama, Vasco, Portuguese navigator
    •    De Soto, Hernando, Spanish explorer
    •    Dias, Bartolomeu, Portuguese navigator
    •    Drake, Sir Francis, English navigator and admiral
    •    Eric the Red, Norse chieftain, discoverer and colonizer of Greenland
    •    Gosnold, Bartholomew, English explorer and colonizer
    •    Henry the Navigator, prince of Portugal, patron of exploration
    •    Hudson, Henry, English navigator and explorer
    •    Jolliet, Louis, French explorer
    •    La Salle, Robert Cavelier, sieur de, French explorer in North America
    •    Leif Ericsson, Norse discoverer of America
    •    Magellan, Ferdinand, Portuguese navigator
    •    Marquette, Jacques, French missionary and explorer in North America
    •    Pizarro, Francisco, Spanish conquistador
    •    Ponce de León, Juan, Spanish explorer
    •    Raleigh, Sir Walter, English soldier, explorer, courtier, and man of letters
    •    Verrazano, Giovanni da, Italian navigator and explorer
    •    Vespucci, Amerigo, Italian navigator in whose honor America was named

The Age of Exploration and Discovery?

The Age of Exploration and Discovery?

Due September 21, 2012

According to various online dictionaries, exploration is the act or instance of investigating unknown regions or areas while discovery is defined as the act or instance of “finding” something new. Keeping these definitions in mind continue with the following blog.

During the early 15th century until the late 17th century, Europeans took to the seas in search of new products, markets and land. As these intrepid sailors spanned the global in search of these items, new lands, cultures and peoples were “discovered” that were foreign to the European way of life. Europe went from being a small, barbaric and backward continent to becoming the premier power and center of the world marketplace and culture.

This transformation did not happen overnight but slowly and surely through the efforts of many “explorers” who dared to think and travel beyond the borders of the European continent.  Many of these men took to the seas and laid claim to vast empires for their king and/or queen that spanned the globe. These empires allowed European monarchies to accumulate vast amounts of wealth and power allowing for the transformation of Europe into the world’s first geographical superpower.

For this blog, each student will research an “explorer” and make a case for their role in helping make this Age of Exploration and Discovery a success. Remember each “explorer” should only be covered by one student only, thus  if someone has already done a particular “explorer” then you must now choose a different person (the earlier you do the blog the more choices you will have of subject!). Remember you are required to do an initial post (your subject) and then comment on at least two other posts to meet the requirements of the assignment (please refer to your rubric!). The following links are made available to assist you in preparing your initial blog post. These entries only offer a thumbnail sketch of various “explorers” and will require students to do further research. Remember to cite all sources that you use in your initial and subsequent posts. Wikipedia or any wikis are never acceptable sources!

(Read First)
Age of Exploration and Discovery
    http://geography.about.com/od/historyofgeography/a/ageexploration.htm
    http://blog.aurorahistoryboutique.com/the-age-of-exploration-and-discovery/

    •    Acuña, Cristóbal de, Spanish Jesuit missionary and explorer in South America
    •    Alarcón, Hernando de, Spanish explorer in the Southwest
    •    Anza, Juan Bautista de, Spanish explorer and official in the Southwest and the far West
    •    Balboa, Vasco Núñez de, Spanish conquistador, discoverer of the Pacific Ocean
    •    Cárdenas, García López de, Spanish explorer in the Southwest.
    •    Cabeza de Vaca, Álvar Núñez, Spanish explorer
    •    Cabot, John, English explorer
    •    Cabot, Sebastian, explorer in English and Spanish service
    •    Cabral, Pedro,   Portuguese explorer
    •    Cabrillo, Juan Rodríguez, Spanish conquistador and discoverer of California
    •    Cartier, Jacques, French navigator
    •    Champlain, Samuel de, French explorer, the chief founder of New France
    •    Columbus, Christopher, European explorer
    •    Coronado, Francisco Vásquez de, Spanish explorer
    •    Cortés, Hernán, Spanish conquistador
    •    da Gama, Vasco, Portuguese navigator
    •    De Soto, Hernando, Spanish explorer
    •    Dias, Bartolomeu, Portuguese navigator
    •    Drake, Sir Francis, English navigator and admiral
    •    Eric the Red, Norse chieftain, discoverer and colonizer of Greenland
    •    Gosnold, Bartholomew, English explorer and colonizer
    •    Henry the Navigator, prince of Portugal, patron of exploration
    •    Hudson, Henry, English navigator and explorer
    •    Jolliet, Louis, French explorer
    •    La Salle, Robert Cavelier, sieur de, French explorer in North America
    •    Leif Ericsson, Norse discoverer of America
    •    Magellan, Ferdinand, Portuguese navigator
    •    Marquette, Jacques, French missionary and explorer in North America
    •    Pizarro, Francisco, Spanish conquistador
    •    Ponce de León, Juan, Spanish explorer
    •    Raleigh, Sir Walter, English soldier, explorer, courtier, and man of letters
    •    Verrazano, Giovanni da, Italian navigator and explorer
    •    Vespucci, Amerigo, Italian navigator in whose honor America was named