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European Exploration Motivations

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European Exploration Motivations

European explorer ship sailing across the ocean

🌍 Part 1: Understanding Exploration Motivations

1. What were the three main categories of motivations for European exploration?

Economic, Religious, Political

Military, Cultural, Scientific

Social, Educational, Artistic

Geographic, Technological, Personal

2. Which of the following were economic motivations for exploration? (Check all that apply)

Finding gold and silver

Discovering new trade routes

Converting people to Christianity

Obtaining valuable spices

3. The time period when Europeans began exploring new lands is called the ________________.

Fill in the blank: ___________________________

4. Which European countries were major powers during the Age of Exploration?

Spain, England, and Portugal

Germany, Italy, and Russia

Sweden, Norway, and Denmark

Poland, Hungary, and Austria

✏️ Part 2: Analyzing Motivations

5. Explain how religious motivations influenced European exploration. Give at least one specific example.
6. Describe how political motivations (like gaining power and territory) encouraged exploration.
7. Complete this "I can..." statement based on what you learned:

I can ________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

🤔 Part 3: Critical Thinking

8. How do you think these European motivations might have affected the people who already lived in the new territories? Explain your reasoning.
9. Extension Activity: If you were an explorer in the 1500s, which motivation (economic, religious, or political) would be most important to you? Explain why.

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