HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY

1. From the perspective of European countries at the time, America was discovered by Christopher Columbus, in 1492 (October 12th). He landed on a small island, which he named San Salvador; and thinking it one of the islands of India, he called the natives Indians.
2. Columbus was an Italian; but he sailed under the orders of the King and Queen of Spain.
3. In the 9th century, people from Norway colonized Iceland; and in the following century, Greenland was settled by Norwegian Icelanders.
4. The mainland of North America was discovered by John Cabot and his son, who sailed in the service of England, in 1497. The next year, his son conducted a voyage and explored the coast from Labrador to the Delaware Bay.
5. America received its name from Amerigo Vespucci. who visited South America, in 1499.
6. Accounts of his voyages to the New World were published in Europe, and he acquired the reputation of being the first discoverer.
7. One navigators of the 16th century was Ponce de Leon, who explored Florida in search of a fountain which, according to a report, could restore youth to the aged.





8. Another explorer of the 16th century was Cortes, who entered Mexico, which he found rich in gold and silver, and whose inhabitants (Aztecs) practiced many of the arts of civilization; and Balboa, who, from the Isthmus of Panama, discovered the Pacific Ocean.
9. In the 17th century. Henry Hudson, with the hope of reaching Asia, entered the bay which now bears his name.
10. Among the celebrated voyagers in the Arctic regions were Cook, Fox, Ross, Barrow, Parry, Sir John Franklin, and Kane; the most recent are Hall and Hayes.
11. Nearly the whole of the New World came into the possession of Spain and England by conquest of the native people living on the lands; but additional changes have been made by revolution conquest and treaties.
12. Greenland belongs to Denmark. Iceland once belonged to Denmark, but it is now independent.
13. Mexico and the countries of Central America formerly belonged to Spain, and they are now independent.

MAPWORK

1. Rivers
   • St. Lawrence River
   • Ottawa River
   • Saguenay River
   • St. Francis River
   • Sorel River
   • St. John's River
   
   
2. Bays
   • Bay of Fundy
   • Bay of Chaleur
   • Bay of Georgian
   • James Bay
   
   
3. Cities
   • Montreal
   • Quebec
   • Toronto
   • Hamilton
   • St. John's
   • Kingston
   • Ottawa
   • Annapolis
   
   
4. On what waters would you sail traveling from:
   • Detroit to Buffalo
   • Detroit to Toronto
   • Toronto to Montreal
   • Montreal to the Gulf of St. Lawrence
   
   
5. Equivalent Latitudes
   • Examine the right and left edges of the map to see the relative latitudes of locations in Europe and Asia.
   • Name three North American items that are the same latitude as Scotland.
   • Name three North American items that are the same latitude as England.
   • Name three North American items that are the same latitude as France.
   • Name three North American items that are the same latitude as Spain.
   • Name three North American items that are the same latitude as Morocco.
   • Name three North American items that are the same latitude as the Sahara Desert.