I. The Age of Exploration A. Why it Matters 1. Crusades & Renaissance Europe looking beyond its borders a. trade w/ Africa & Asia expanded 1). Ppl looked 4 easier routes 2 Asia Americas B. First Visitors From Europe 1. ppl 50 yrs ago used 2 think Christopher Columbus 1st 2 discover Americas 2. 1st evidence o? Europeans 2 Americas a. Vikings ? seagoing ppl 4om Scandinavia b. 1963 ? Newfoundland rediscovered 1). Leif Erikson & 35 others sailed 4om Greenland 1001 AD 2). spent winter on land ?Vinland? C. The Voyages of Columbus 1. Columbus thought reach Asia by sailing west across Atlantic Ocean a. grew up near Genoa (port city b. 1470?s settled 2 Portugal 4 exploration 2. Portugal king little interest