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''Exam note'': there is a most one or two questions about the Pre-Columbian period on any American history exam.

''Exam note'': there is a most one or two questions about the Pre-Columbian period on any American history exam.

== Exploration ==

== Exploration (Columbian Period) ==

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.  Ironically, it was the very knowledge of the Earth's circumference that deterred a westward passage - the distance to the orient in that direction was beyond the open-water range of ships in that period.   

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.  Ironically, it was the very knowledge of the Earth's circumference that deterred a westward passage - the distance to the orient in that direction was beyond the open-water range of ships in that period.   

Think about it.  Would your family uproot and move, at great risk to your lives, to a place that had no civilization or anything of value?  Do we see families moving to the middle of the desert in Arizona, or to cheap land in the middle of Wyoming?  Only very rarely.

Think about it.  Would your family uproot and move, at great risk to your lives, to a place that had no civilization or anything of value?  Do we see families moving to the middle of the desert in Arizona, or to cheap land in the middle of Wyoming?  Only very rarely.

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England’s first settlement of North America was in 1585, on [[Roanoke Island]] in Virginia.  More than 100 families settled there.  In a few years they had all disappeared, and it’s a mystery to this day what happened.  They could have died from disease or starvation.  They could have been killed by Indians.  No one knows.  It’s called the “[[Lost Colony]].”

[[England]]'s first settlement of [[North America]] was in 1585, on [[Roanoke Island]] in [[Virginia]].  More than 100 families settled there, but within a few years they had all disappeared.  It remains a mystery to this day what happened.  They could have died from disease or starvation.  They could have been killed by Indians, although note that Indian attacks were often at the prodding of a rival European group, and there was no rival European group at that time.  No one knows the real reason for the disappearance of this settlement, and it's called the "[[Lost Colony]]."

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About the same time, however, England had a huge success in Europe.  Spain had ruled the high seas for most of the 1500s, until England destroyed the Spanish Armada in 1588.  That left England with the potential to gain control of the oceans and world trade over the seas.  England could protect its colonies against other European powers.

About the same time, however, England had a huge success in Europe.  Spain had ruled the high seas for most of the 1500s, until England destroyed the Spanish Armada in 1588.  That left England with the potential to gain control of the oceans and world trade over the seas.  England could protect its colonies against other European powers.