We watched a short video clip to give us a "big picture" of what we are studying today (European countries are beginning to show interest in exploring the world around them).
We began learning about life in the Middle Ages and how world events helped to spark European exploration:
- The Crusades - thousands of Europeans explored the world as they tried to regain the Holy Land from Muslim control
- They found new spices, technology, and products in the Middle East
- There was a desire to begin trading with those in the Middle East
- The Renaissance - a rebirth of the arts, science, and discovery
- Exploration by European powers
We finished off the day by beginning an assignment on explorers. Here is a link to that assignment
