When the Age of Discovery began, the great powers of Europe included England, Spain and France. All three realized that to be the richest, most powerful nation in the world they would have to explore and conquer as much of the New World as possible. England's Chance England's King Henry VII gave Italian-born explorer Giovanni Caboto, later called John Cabot, permission to explore unknown land for England in 1497. Cabot sailed north of Columbus' route across the Atlantic Ocean. He claimed land in present day Canada and explored the United States. However, Cabot believed he was in Asia. His ship sank before he could return home and Cabot never knew what he had really discovered. Spain Sends More Explorers Spain also wanted to be the great power in the world. The leaders realized they needed to continue to explore and conquer. People heard tales of New World cities made entirely of gold. Spaniard Hernan Cortes was determined to find gold and silver in the New World. He sailed to present day Mexico and conquered the Aztec people who lived there in 1521. There were also stories of magical fountains with water that could turn old people young again. At about the same time Cortes was conquering the Aztec, another Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon, set off from Puerto Rico. Some people believe he hoped to find the magic water, the "fountain of youth." He landed in present day Florida. Of course there was no fountain of youth to be found, but de Leon claimed the land of Florida for Spain. France Takes a Turn By 1521, Spain found a new route to Asia by sailing around the tip of South America. By that time, many knew that North America lay between Asia and Europe. King Francis I of France believed, though, that Asia was still very close to North America's west coast. He wanted to find a shortcut - a water passage across North America. In 1534, King Francis sent sailor Jacques Cartier to find the shortcut, but there was no such water passage for anyone to find. Cartier instead
When the Age of Discovery began, the great powers of Europe included England, Spain and France. All three realized that to be the richest, most powerful nation in the world they would have to explore and conquer as much of the New World as possible. England's Chance England's King Henry VII gave Italian-born explorer Giovanni Caboto, later called John Cabot, permission to explore unknown land for England in 1497. Cabot sailed north of Columbus' route across the Atlantic Ocean. He claimed land in present day Canada and explored the United States. However, Cabot believed he was in Asia. His ship sank before he could return home and Cabot never knew what he had really discovered. Spain Sends More Explorers Spain also wanted to be the great power in the world. The leaders realized they needed to continue to explore and conquer. People heard tales of New World cities made entirely of gold. Spaniard Hernan Cortes was determined to find gold and silver in the New World. He sailed to present day Mexico and conquered the Aztec people who lived there in 1521. There were also stories of magical fountains with water that could turn old people young again. At about the same time Cortes was conquering the Aztec, another Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon, set off from Puerto Rico. Some people believe he hoped to find the magic water, the "fountain of youth." He landed in present day Florida. Of course there was no fountain of youth to be found, but de Leon claimed the land of Florida for Spain. France Takes a Turn By 1521, Spain found a new route to Asia by sailing around the tip of South America. By that time, many knew that North America lay between Asia and Europe. King Francis I of France believed, though, that Asia was still very close to North America's west coast. He wanted to find a shortcut - a water passage across North America. In 1534, King Francis sent sailor Jacques Cartier to find the shortcut, but there was no such water passage for anyone to find. Cartier instead
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