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<b>Exploration</b>

<b>Exploration</b>

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Starting in the Middle Ages, Europeans began to expand their horizons – literally.  They fought the Holy [[Crusades]] from 1095 to 1291 to protect Christian pilgrimage to [[Jerusalem]] against Moslem attacks.  Europeans wanted to expand the world of Christianity, and spread the [[Gospel]].  Meanwhile, European science and geography continued to advance, such that they knew they could reach the Orient by sailing West around the world.

Starting in the Middle Ages, Christian Europe began to use its knowledge, wealth and [[faith]] to extend move beyond its horizons.  Christian Europeans fought the Holy [[Crusades]] from 1095 to 1291 to protect pilgrims to [[Jerusalem]] against Moslem attacks.  Some Europeans were motivated to spread the [[Gospel]].  Others were motivated by a desire to increase their wealth, such as by finding gold.  Supporting both types of people was increased knowledge about science and geography:  Europeans knew that they could reach the Orient by traveling West '''''around''''' the world.  What they did not know is what they would find, if anything, by sailing West, before they reached the Orient.

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About 1000 A.D., the Scandinavian [[Leif Ericson]] discovered [[Vinland]], which is probably present [[New England]], and founded a small colony that failed.  Nothing further came of that effort.  Because this exploration amounted to nothing, it is not particularly significant.

About 1000 A.D., the Scandinavian [[Leif Ericson]] discovered [[Vinland]], which is probably present [[New England]], and founded a small colony that failed.  Nothing further came of that effort.  Because this exploration amounted to nothing, it is not particularly significant.