Assignment Summary For this assignment, you will create a time line of key dates and journeys by European explorers.
Background Information
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Europeans explored lands outside of their own countries. Patrons such as governments and business owners sponsored European explorers for several different reasons.
Economic gain was certainly a part of sponsoring voyages. European nations wanted to access goods directly at lower costs. They started to control natural resources, such as gold, silver, timber, and fur, from other lands. They gathered natural resources from new lands, made them into finished goods, and then sold them back to colonists. European nations did not allow colonists to trade with other countries or manufacture their own goods, so the system was very profitable for the governing country.
Political competition also pushed nations to explore. European nations were engaged in ongoing rivalries, which means they competed with one another for power. Exploring and controlling new lands gave them wealth and power, so their rivalry extended to exploration.
Religion motivated some explorers. Europeans wanted to spread Christianity in the Americas. They also wanted to disrupt the spread of Islam and increase the number of Christians around the world. Europeans believed that they were doing a good thing by spreading Christianity to others. However, people from other cultures may have felt that ideas and beliefs were being forced on them.
Materials

 Computer with internet access
 Chart with suggested dates and events

Assignment Instructions
For this project, you will submit a time line showing key dates and journeys by European explorers.
Step 1: Prepare for the project.
a) Read through the guide before you begin so you know the expectations for this project.
b) If anything is not clear to you, ask your teacher for assistance.
Step 2: Research background information on significant journeys by European explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries.
a) Research the key dates and journeys related to the topic.
b) Be sure to use reliable internet sources, such as the following.
I. Encyclopaedia Britannica: www. britannica. com
II. Library of Congress: www. loc. gov
III. The Smithsonian Museum’s Learning Lab: www. learninglab. si. edu
Step 3: Organize your research in a chart.
a) Organize your findings in a chart. You can use the chart at the end of the Student Guide.
b) Place all entries in chronological order.
Step 4: Create a time line that shows key dates and journeys related to European exploration. Access the time line builder here.
a) Plan: Sketch your time line on a piece of paper before you begin.
b) Draft: Create a rough draft of your time line.
c) Revise: Review your work, correct mistakes, and make improvements.
d) Decorate your time line with images.
e) Include a list of internet sources with your time line.
Step 5: Use this checklist to evaluate your project.
When you can answer yes to all of these questions, you are ready to submit your time line.

Yes No Evaluation Question
Does your time line include dates and key events related to the topic?
Is your time line organized chronologically?
Did you include all dates and journeys?
Did you add images to your time line?
Does your time line use correct punctuation and grammar?
Does your time line present information in ways that will engage your audience?
Is your time line neat, easy to read, and visually appealing?

Step 6: Revise and submit your project.
a) If you were unable to answer yes to all of the questions on the checklist, revise and save your time line before submitting your assignment.
b) When you have completed your time line, return to the Virtual Classroom and use the “Add Files” option to locate and submit your assignment. Ask your teacher for assistance if necessary.
c) Ask your teacher whether you will present your time line to an audience of your peers.

Sample Chart
Explorer Date Key Event
Christopher Columbus 1492 CE Landed in the Bahamas