European Exploration of Sea Route to the Orient

Introduction

By the mid 1400s (the 15th Century) Europeans had established trade with the Orient (India and other Asian peoples). Land routes were difficult and costly, as caravans of pack animals were the only means of transportation. Costs were escalated as goods traveled through different lands along the way. The race was on to find a sea route to trade directly with the Orient. 

Task

Your team's task is to go on a Web Quest to learn about the history of these sea routes and the explorers who accomplished them, and those who did not. You are to write a proposal to a King or Queen asking for them to fund your exploration to find a sea route. 

Your proposal should include the following:

  1. A map of your intended route
  2. A written justification for why you have a plan for a successful outcome
  3. A supply list of what you will need from the monarch(s)
  4. A written statement of the benefits for the monarch(s) if they do fund your exploration

Process

Evaluation

 Grading Rubric

 

Map

Justification

Supply List

Monarch's Benefit

9-10 points

accurate, detailed,

visually appealing

Shows strong understanding of Renaissance exploration, making reasonable claims. Uses appropriate grammar and communicates clearly.

Is logical for the times and meets the basic needs for living on a ship. Includes items to meet needs beyond basic survival.

Creatively explains how voyage will benefit the monarch who funds the exploration. Appeals to moral and financial interests. Writing uses appropriate grammar and communicates clearly.

8 points

two above elements

Shows understanding of Renaissance exploration, making reasonable claims. Uses appropriate grammar with few errors and makes sense.

Is logical for the times and meets the basic needs for living on a ship.

Explains how voyage will benefit the monarch who funds the exploration. Appeals to the monarch’s interests. Writing uses appropriate grammar with few errors and makes sense.

7 points

one above element

Shows some understanding of Renaissance exploration. Writing makes sense but has errors.

Is logical for the times but may be lacking important basic living needs. Or meets basic needs but is not logical for the times.

Explains how voyage will benefit the monarch who funds the exploration. Writing makes sense but has several errors.

Conclusion

Good job explorers! I hope you've learned about the Europeans' efforts to find a sea route to India and the Asian trading partners of the Orient. By presenting a proposal, you should understand the political situation in Europe with monarchs that controlled the lives of their subjects. In learning of Columbus's mistaken plan to travel west to reach the East, you can see how little that people understood the complete map of the world at that time.

Credits

Fictum, D. (2016, May 20). Salt Pork, Ship's Biscuit, and Burgoo: Sea Provisions for Common Sailors and Pirates, Part 1. Retrieved from https://csphistorical.com/2016/01/24/salt-pork-ships-biscuit-and-burgoo-sea-provisions-for-common-sailors-and-pirates-part-1/

History.com Staff. (2009). Bartolomeu Dias. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/bartolomeu-dias

History.com Staff. (2009). Vasco da Gama. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/vasco-da-gama

History.com Staff. (2009). Christopher Columbus. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/christopher-columbus

Renaissance -- Exploration and Trade. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.learner.org/interactives/renaissance/exploration.html

Teacher Page

Mrs. Williford

School year 2018-2019

Fifth Grade

English Language Arts and Social Studies