1. Political Cartoon Portraying the Scramble for Africa
This cartoon takes a humorous approach on the European imperialist ventures into Africa in the 1800-1900's. The Cake represents Africa and the men represent European powers each taking their own piece out of it. It's meant to show how everyone wanted their own section and cut out their own individual piece, despite what the Africans think.
2. Drawing showing Nahua of conquest-era central Mexico suffering from smallpox.
This drawing shows the Nahua people suffering from smallpox in Mexico. The reason for the outbreak is from the newly arrived European colonists spreading "old world diseases". With zero immunity, millions of people in the Americas died, resulting in a relatively easy takeover.
3. Portrait of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus is known around the world for inspiring Europeans to get involved with in the Americas. Landing on an island in what is now the Bahamas, he single-handedly is the reason for the complete and utter takeover of the native lands. He was originally looking for a shortcut to east Asia, resulting in the Native Americans being called Indians.
4. European explorers measure and record the statues on the Polynesian island of Easter Island
This picture shows European explorers surveying the land and taking notes on the interesting aspects of it (such as the Easter Island statues). Europeans at this time were searching all over the world for new places to colonize and exploit, resulting in many islands in the South Pacific to be discovered by western countries.
5. Portrait of Abel Tasman
This portrait shows Abel Tasman, a famous Dutch explorer known for discovering many South Pacific islands. He discovered Van Diemen's Land, New Zealand, the Tonga Islands and some of the Fiji group in 1642. Later in life, he was found guilty of hanging one of his men without a fair trial, resulting in him paying compensation to the man's family and the stripping of his commander title.
6. Painting of Hernando De Soto
This Spanish explorer lived during the 16th century, traveling to the west Indies, hoping to make a nice living in the Central-American slave trade. In 1538, he set out with his men to conquer Florida. This turned out to be a surprising journey because, after walking over 4,000 miles, Hernando became the first European to encounter the Great Mississippi River and cross it.
7. Map of the Age of Discovery
During the 16th century, European explorers began to spread out and go all over the world. All the European countries show a trend of the reasons for doing so. One was the possibility of finding gold and other natural resources to become rich, while the others were for the purpose of spreading religion and to gain personal honor and glory.
8. Portrait of Francis Drake
Francis Drake is a very famous English explorer known for being the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. Originally setting out to find the Northwest Passage, he set sail across the Pacific, through the Indian Ocean and around the Cape of Good Hope back to England.
9. René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
René was a French explorer sent out to discover many of the North American rivers. He is best known for his expeditions down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers and naming the surrounding areas Louisiana, after King Louis XIV.
10. Portrait of John Cabot
John was known for his voyage to North America not too far after Christopher Columbus, in 1497. Then, he took a crew of 18 to claim land for the British. He successfully made it to Canada, only to believe that it was in fact Asia. He attempted to claim British land, not realizing what continent he was on.
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