In this unit you learned about exploration that took place in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. European countries led most of these explorations. What were some of the motives for exploration and expansion at that time? Who led these expeditions? What were some of the consequences of expansion for native groups and peoples? When they were alive, many explorers were hailed as brave heroes for charting the unknown. But some people today have been critical of these individuals. What is your opinion of explorers and their voyages during the First Global Age?

The correct answers to these open questions are the following.

What were some of the motives for exploration and expansion at that time?

Explorers of the middle ages were hired by the European kings to sail and discover new routes to distant lands such as the Indies and the African coasts, in order to explore, conquer, and exploit the many raw materials and natural resources of those continents. That is how the Spanish first arrive in the Americas. In this case, Christopher Columbus, who arrived in the Americas on October 12, 1492.

Who led these expeditions?

As I told you above, explorers such as Americo Vespucio, Christoper Columbus, or Ferdinand Magellan were some of the famous explorers of the 1400s and 1500s.

What were some of the consequences of expansion for native groups and peoples?

European kings sent their armies to conquer and colonize these territories, as was the case of the Spanish in Mesoamerica, or the French and British in the North American territory.  Europeans settled in new towns and colonies, displaced Native Indians from their lands, and spread many unknown diseases such as chickenpox, smallpox, malaria, cholera, and influenza, killing almost 70 to 80% of the native Indian population.

When they were alive, many explorers were hailed as brave heroes for charting the unknown. But some people today have been critical of these individuals. What is your opinion of explorers and their voyages during the First Global Age?

Yes, it is a controversial topic. But as some modern historians think today, these European kings and the conquerors caused too much pain, suffering, and destruction with the colonization and evangelization process. Nothing to be proud of.

the berlin blockade was an international crisis that arose from an attempt by the soviet union, in 1948–49, to force the western allied powers (the united states, the united kingdom, and france) to abandon their post-world war ii jurisdictions in west berlin. in march 1948 the allied powers decided to unite their different occupation zones of germany into a single economic unit. in protest, the soviet representative withdrew from the allied control council. coincident with the introduction of a new deutsche mark in west berlin (as throughout west germany), which the soviets regarded as a violation of agreements with the allies, the soviet occupation forces in eastern germany began a blockade of all rail, road, and water communications between berlin and the west. on june 24 the soviets announced that the four-power administration of berlin had ceased and that the allies no longer had any rights there.

1960: wilma rudolph was the first woman to win three olympic gold medals in track and field at one olympic games. she was an american sprinter from tennessee, she was acclaimed the fastest woman in the world. she was among the most visible black women in america and abroad. she became a role model for black and female athletes. she was also known as a civil rights and women right's pioneer.

1973: billy jean king is an american former number one tennis player. she represented the united states in the federal cup and the wightman cup. for three years she was the usa's captain in the federation cup. she defends gender equality and has been a pioneer for equal and social justice. at the age of 29, she won "the battle of sexes" tennis match against the 55 year old bobby riggs. she was also the founder of women's tennis association and the women's sports foundation.  

1983: tamara mckinney becomes the first american female skier to win the alpine world cup overall championship top. she was the only american to hold that title for a quarter century until 2008.

1992: manon rhéaume, from canada,   becomes the only woman to start in a national hockey league game in an exhibition game for the tampa bay lightning . she played on the canada women's national ice hockey team winning gold medals in 1992 and 1994. and silver medals in 1998. manon marked the first time a woman appeared in a regular season professional game with her first appearance against the salt lake golden eagles.

2013: serena williams won 78 of 82 matches at the age of 31. she is an american professional tennis player. she reached the number 1 ranking for the first time on july, 8, 2002. at the age of 16, she played against karsten braasch the battle of sexes. she was the highest paid female athlete in 2016. she is a unicef ambassador .