- Prince Henry the Navigator
- Bartolomeu Dias
- Vasco da Gama
- Christopher Columbus
- Ferdinand Magellan
- Zheng He
BUT FIRST, CHOOSE AN EXPLORER. YOU ARE NOW HIM. WRITE AS IF YOU ARE THAT PERSON!!!!
1. In a 1st-person paragraph, state why you were the greatest explorer of the era.
(EXAMPLE: I, Vasco da Gama, was the greatest explorer this world has ever seen. Without my discovery of....)
2. Then, in 2-3 sentences, call out who you think was the weakest explorer of this time.
(EXAMPLE: Sailing around the world, Magellan, please! If you had not known about my earlier discovery...)
In #2, feel free to be creative and funny while attacking the other explorers. However, good taste must be shown as stated on the rules of the blog!!
You will be graded on: Completion of the assignment, usage of facts when making your case as the best explorer and in attacking your opponent, posting without spelling or grammatical errors.
POSTS ARE DUE BY 9th PERIOD ON THURSDAY!!
31 comments:
I, Vasco da Gama, am the greatest explorer of the age of exploration and discovery. I was the first European to explore the Africa's eastern coast and to reach India. My most lasting impact, however, was the fact that I opened Portugal's trade empire. The pepper and cinnamon my crew brought back to Portugal in 1499 fueled my countrymen's desire for wealth via the spice trade. As a result, many navigators followed my original route around the southern tip of Africa to trade in India. Thus, I am credited with establishing Portugal's direct sea route to India. In addition, Portugal's later trading success impelled other European nations such as England and the Netherlands to establish trading posts in the Indian Ocean region. Because I was the first European to reach India and started the trading mania in India and the Indian Ocean region, I am the greatest explorer of the navigation era.
I, Vasco da Gama, believe that you, Bartolomeu Dias, are the weakest explorer of the navigation era. I mean, come on! You barely made it around the southern tip of Africa before turning back! I made it to India and paved the way for Portugal's and other European nations' trading empires, which makes me greater than you, Dias!
1. I, Christopher Colombus believe i am the greatest explorer of all time because I realized the world was round and discovered America. Without my discovery people might have taken hundreds of years to venture west. Also all the countries in the west may have never developed or be very underdeveloped. Also all those native americans may have stayed in power. And finally the most important country in the world,CANADA, may not have been as great as it will be it 2010.
2. I believe that Bartolomeu Dias is the weakest explorer. Unlike me or even Vasco da Gama he barely traveled. He almost didn't even make it around Africa and I think the storm that pushed him through is a better explorer. Then unlike me turned back right away. That is why their is a Colombus Day and not a Dias Day.
I, Zhang He, am a boss. I traveled to and around southeast Asia and East Africa. Over my seven journeys, I found many places and learned many new things about the world. I brought envoys from 30 countries to China using diplomacy as opposed to violence. I also rid the waters of many pirates that had harried merchant ships for years. With my fleet of junks, I showed China's power and also charted the Ocean around China, South Asia, and even near Africa.
Christopher Colombus has more fame than he deserves. He went by order of the Spanish government to sail across the Atlantic in search of Asia. Christopher Colombus thought that America was Asia... I mean really. His "discovery" of "Asia" only created tension between the Spanish and Portugese. Also, it led to the death of many native peoples to that land. I hardly called what he did true exploration; he was just lucky.
1. I, Prince Henry the Navigator, am the greatest explorer. My country, Portugal, ruled the Indian Ocean trade routes. I was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of exploration. Exploring is not cheap. It costs lots of money. I used my wealth to help fund the sailors. Without me, they would have never been able to go and make their marvelous discoveries. My support of exploration launched an era where other countries followed the path I paved for them. I am the leader of this exploration era.
2. Christopher Columbus is the weakest explorer. The only thing he has going for him is his ability to convince people he landed in Asia. Sure, he discovered a new land. But how great can he be if he didn't even know that? It was a stroke of luck that where he landed had not been discovered already. The only reason Columbus sailed was because he was trying to compete with us. His lack of knowledge and control of trade routes shows that we won that battle.
I, Christopher Columbus, am the greatest explorer of my time for a variety of reasons. Everyone thought that the world was flat during my lifetime. I knew that they were all wrong, though. Everyone thought that there was nothing out there in the Atlantic Ocean, and if one went too far they would fall off of the world. This statement was insane. Even so, I had to have enough courage and persistance to ask the king and queen for financing this voyage. When they finally agreed I set sail and proved all those doubters wrong. I know my discovery was mostly luck, but if I didnt take that risk, I never would have found the Americas. The rest of the explorers played it safe and traveled to places they already knew of so now I am the most known explorer in North America because I am not afraid to take chances.
It is quite obvious who the weakest explorer is. The weakest explorer would definitely have to be Prince Henry. He didn't do any actual sailing or exploring. Instead he spent a ton of money on fourteen voyages to places that he already knew existed. It was a tremendous waste of time and money, and he put his successors in such a massive debt that it took years to pay off. He is definitely the weakest.
1) I, Christopher Columbus, am the greatest explorer. I paved the way for all that followed because of my ideas to sail west across the Atlantic Ocean. I discovered a new world that no one from our European nations had ever seen before. So what if I didn't get to where I had originally wanted to go? I found something better that nobody else had already taken over. Although I found no gold, I found more land. On return to Spain, my Spanish monarchs were pleased. They funded me to take three more trips to the colonies which meant that I had more land to discover. I became an empire builder.
2) Ferdinand Magellan was the weakest explorer. There's all this talk about how he is an amazing explorer because he was the first to sail around the world. Sure that sounds amazing, but the details behind that story might change some opinions. He first made it around the southern tip of South America to Guam, which is an accomplishment. After that though, he made it to the Philippines and then died. Seriously? He made it all the way to the Philippines safely without dying from one of the many possible deaths on a boat in the middle of the ocean, and then got involved in war and died. He also did not supply his crew with enough food which raises ideas that he was not a good captain. Of the 250 men that started this journey with him, just 18 returned to Spain. His crew deserves the credit, not him.
1. I, Vasco da Gama, am by far the greatest and most important explorer of my time. You may ask, why? I far surpassed the accomplishments of my fellow countryman Bartolomeu Dias. Dias became intimidated by a small storm and turned home immediately. I, however, encountered various challenges myself but pushed on and traveled the entire east African coast. I eventually reached the magnificent city of Calicut, on the coast of India. My crew and I were amazed by the spices and rare items found in Calicut. We filled our ships and brought home thousands of items to show everyone back in Portugal, my home. Dias, on the other hand, has nothing to show for his travels. My voyage was over 27,000 miles long and gave my country a direct sea route to India.
2. I believe that Christopher Columbus, although he may be the most decorated conquistador of our time, did not contribute much. He did develop and experiment the idea of going with the trade wind patterns, but his accomplishments are nothing compared to my own. He did not explore out of his own curiosity, but on an order from his country. His findings helped the future, and without them, lives in America would be quite different. However, at the time he discovered the "New World," the benefits of his explorations were not nearly as significant as the benefits of mine.
I, Zheng He, am the most glorious and prominent explorer during the exploration age. I was one of the first to use "junks" during my expeditions, increasing me and my crew's chances of success. I used the most massive ships that the world had ever seen! Traveling the Indian Ocean with my fleets, I set an everlasting impression upon the foreign people that watched me sail in glory. My success also came with the way I handled the foreigners: for example, I would kindly present them with gifts, and in return, they gave me items of ivory, gold, and even spices that I introduced to my people! Through my expeditions, people learned of China's amazing power and dominance.
I personally believe that Bartolomeu Dias was the biggest joke of an explorer! What did he accomplish? Absolutely NOTHING. After being hit by an unpredicted storm, Dias arrived at the tip of Africa, cold, wet, hungry, and undignified. (Quite unlike me,Zheng He.)He hardly even explored the coast! He didn't gain any new wealth, get any new items for trade, and didn't learn anything new! Well, except that he should probably keep his day job...
As a very wise girl once said during her ninth period History class, "FAILURE!"
1.) I, Zheng He, am the best. When people think of explorers, they think of Europeans. I don't know why, though. Europeans were selfish and annoying. All they wanted was glory and gold. I know they said it was to honor God, but their exploring caused tension and it was not to honor God. I took 7 voyages just because I was curious. Then, when I came back from the 7th one, my country was perfectly fine with stopping. Over my many trips, I discovered many new lands, but I was not greedy. I am the best explorer of the age of exploration and discovery.
2.) I think everyone knows who the weakest explorer is---Prince Henry the Navigator. He can hardly be CALLED an explorer. Did he ever even take a voyage? I didn't think so. Anyone can provide money for voyages, but it takes a really courageous and great person (ME!) to go on the voyage. He shouldn't receive any credit. He didn't even do anything!! I am way better than he is, and even those selfish European explorers are better than he is. It's ridiculous he is called "the Navigator."
I, Prince Henry "The Navigator", am without a doubt the greatest asset to the age of exploration and discovery. My nation of Portugal happens to be the first to set up trading posts along the African coasts. My inspiration for exploration came in 1415 when I conquered the Muslim city of Ceuta in Africa. I saw the magnificent riches that lay beyond Europe and I was struck with desire to make the riches mine. Everyone in the Portuguese government is enthusiastic about exploration and the glories it will bring to us. Not only shall we obtain GOLD, and GLORY, but we shall triumph in the name of our sovereign lord Jesus Christ. Thanks to me, thousands of mapmakers, instrument makers, shipbuilders,scientists, and sea captains have been able to perfect their trades at the navigation schools that I've created along the southwest coast of my blessed country. I believe that because of my efforts in exploration, Portugal shall be the foremost traders for years to come. I hope that one day we will even have a direct route to India!
I, Prince Henry "The Navigator", believe that Christopher Columbus is the most incompetent and worthless explorer ever to set foot in this world. Honestly, how do you mistake the America's for the Indies. They're in completely opposite directions! With all of the advance technology that navigators and such have, Columbus wouldn't get so turned around. Yet, he has his own holiday! In that case I should have several holidays for all the schools I set up for people like Columbus. Plus, his false statement that he "found Asia" only added to the tension between my nation and Spain. Columbus was an accident!
1) I,Ferdinand Magellan am the greastest explorer of this time. I'm the best because while I might not have been the first to reach the Americas I was the one to find a way from the Americas to the Indies and almost all the way around the world. If only 18 of my 250 men returned how am I to be blamed? I was a great captin and made it all the way to the phillipines! I am so the best.
2) In my opinion the worst explorer of the time was Prince Henrey. I mean really can he be concidered an explorer if he never went anywhere. All he did was start a navigation school. It's like honestly woop-dee-doo for him any guy with money could have done that!
1. Who else would be the greatest explorer of this era besides me? It is I, Vasco de Gama. I was one of the first explorers to reach and explore the east African coast. When I reached the east African coast, I kept traveling and eventually reached India. Once in India, I secured rare spices including pepper and cinnamon to return to my homeland of Portugal. Although the voyage cost Portugal a lot of money, it was well-worth it. I brought back cargo worth 60 times the cost of the voyage!! Without me as an explorer, who knows when someone would have discovered a direct sea route to India! I am by far the greatest explorer of this era!
2. The weakest link of the explorers of this era is definitely Christopher Columbus. He receives so much credit for barely doing anything. He had no sense of direction; he thought he was in was the East Indies when he really landed instead on an island in the Bahamas in the Caribbean. Although he brought together the peoples of Europe, Africa, and the Americas, I contributed much more to society than this lost, imprecise explorer.
I, Prince Henry,am the most important. Without me Dias and Da Gama wouldn't have done anything. I provided financial backing and founded a navigation school. I was the real force behind exploration. Without me nothing would have happened. I am exploration.
1) I Zheng He, am the greatest explorer the world has ever seen. I led seven journeys from my homeland of China all around the world, to places as far as East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Those greedy Europeans, who explored only to make money and become famous, didn't truly fulfill one of the main "reasons" for exploration; the spread of ideas and religion. I traveled the seas in search of new places to spread Chinese ideas, and by the time i had come back from my seventh and last voyage, I had already spread my nations beliefs and gained respect from numerous nations as a representative of the great country of China. When I had completed my job, and when my rulers were convinced there was nothing left important outside of China on the globe, we, as a nation, shut the door on the rest of the self-indulgent world.
2) Out of all of those European jokers who call themselves explorers, one in particular is the worst excuse for an explorer I have ever seen. Prince Henry "the navigator", comes in dead last on my list of world-wide explorers; all you have to do is look at his name and it tells you he was merely a navigator, not an explorer. Yes, he founded the school for navigation, and made advancements in that field but us Chinese developed an important piece of equipment as well, one nessecary in almost all exploration: the magnetic compass. Henry also had the wrong mindset (as most Europeans did) when it came to exploration, they were to caught up in the worlds of money that could be made, and the world-wide glory that could be gained. Spreading his nations influence and culture, is one of the most important things one could do, however, by the end of all those European expansions into Africa and Asia, religion, and culture were barely spread outside of the ports. True glory would be expanding one's nations culture and ways, something I focused on, and you did rather poorly.
Magellan, if you can't finish it don't start it. You always get credit for sailing around the world but without me you would have been nothing. And still you can't get all the way around, you have to stop in the Philippines.
1. I, Prince Henry of Portugal, am the most important human that has ever contributed to exploration. My navigation school gave the people of Portugal inspiration to explore. Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Pedro Alvaras Cabral would not have made their explorations with out me. I also believe that the Dutch, Spanish, and English would not have thought about exploring if we hadn't done so first.
1. I, Christopher Columbus, am the most important explorer of all time! If it were not for me, you would not be on this continent as you are today. I was brave and sailed west into the Atlantic Ocean, which almost none were brave enough to do so. I worked hard to gain the financial support I needed from the king and queen, fighting for what I believed in and never backing down. While I didn’t find a new route to Asia like I had intended, I found a new land that changed the world forever. Even the monarchs of Spain were pleased with me, and funded me with three more trips.
2. I cannot stand to hear the name of Bartolomeu Dias! What a lousy excuse of an ‘explorer’! Dias traveled down to the tip of Africa, (a land of which we had already known of), and were only beaten up by a silly storm. While they wanted to go to India, the crew claimed they were too tired to go on, so they returned home. A true explorer is more interested in his discoveries than his physical state! One should explore until they breathe their final breath. Dias and his crew was a bunch of weaklings.
Christopher Colombus didn't know what he found... He mistook the Carribean islands for the East Indies. The man got lucky, and in return has a day dedicated to him. What a joke.
1.I, Zheng He, was by far the best explorer ever. I led seven voyages, which is more than all the European explorers combined. I have traveled to Southeast Asia and eastern Africa. My expeditions are the best because I travel with the widest assortment of ships, including my amazing fighting ships. The other thing that makes me the best explorer is the team that I travel with, which includes not only the usual sailors and soldiers, but also carpenters, doctors and religious leaders. Everything anyone could need was available on board my voyage. I’m sure I could have explored much more, but unfortunately, the emperor decided it was all a waste of money and I wasn’t allowed to go on any more voyages.
2.I don’t understand why explorers such as Bartolomeu Dias are recognized in history when they really didn’t do much at all. Dias couldn’t even finish his trip; he had to turn back and go home because his crew was too tired. Dias was a weak and pathetic explorer, and he should not get any credit.
1) I, Christopher Columbus, am definitely the best explorer of my time. I knew that the world was round, and I was the ONLY one to come up with the idea to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to get to Asia. Mr. Da Gama and Bart Dias were so focused on gettin around that tip of Africa to reach Asia, but it is such a pain to go all the way around; just go across the other way! I made voyage in just over 2 months, during the year 1492. I'm so important, there is even a rhyme about me! I was the first European to claim land in the Americas. After all, I was the first to discover this new land, even if I did not know it at the time. I'm proud to say I claimed much land for Spain during my four voyages. As you can plainly see, I am definitely the most important explorer of my day.
2)Don't tell him I said this, but I think that Bartolomeu Dias was the worst explorer of the day. He was an early explorer so he did not know what he was doing. Plus, he was Potuguese, so he was over confident and uppity, but he really did not accomplish much. Okay, so Mr. Dias rounded the tip of Africa, great. First of all, he did not even get there himself. A big storm blew him there, he did nothing. So he gets there, but then what does he do? He turns back! What were you thinking, Bart? He just said, "Oh, there is a lot of new land out there I could explore! There is a huge oppurtunity to find gold! Nah, I don't feel like it, let's go home." Bartolomeu Dias was definitely not a huge acheiver in the days of exploration.
1. Alright, anybody against Vasco De Gama better step down. It's Gama time. I am the best explorer of....well, of EVER. There are many reasons why, clearly. I sailed 27 THOUSAND MILES and was able to establish a clear route to India. That was just what the Europeans needed to overthrow those darn Italians. I sailed my way across all of the east African coast and found many rare spices in the city of Calicut. Returning home with glory, I not only established myself as the best but provided my country with the route to India.
2. I'm sorry, but Bartolomeu Dias was majorly weak. I mean, come on. A little sneeze from good ol' Mr. Wind, and Dias goes crying home to momma. He barely even made it in his trip around Africa. It doesn't really seem like he did enough to get any credit. I even met him once.
He was stupid.
Dias didn't travel as far as me, as long as me, and didn't finish his trip like I did. Therefore, I am inferior. And he just smells.
1) I, Zheng He, am by far the best explorer of my era. I commanded seven expedititions. I traveled through the South China Sea, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf. I also explored the east coast of Africa and ended up visiting an amazing amount of countries and areas. I am also very skilled and knowledgeble about navigation and the sea. I am a great commander and I also made a huge impact on exploration. I expanded trade and mapped the seas of the West among other things. I also had good intentions for exploring. I did not explore just for wealth like some of the Europeans. I explored mainly from curiousity and to see what was beyond my home. All of these reasons make me the best explorer of my time.
2) Bartolemeu Dias is the weakest explorer of the exploration age. He did not do much exploring at all. In fact, he barely got anything done by traveling! He didn't lead any important expeditions. He took a sixteen month voyage, got caught in a storm, landed on an island, and returned home having done barely anything. He barely made any impact on the world of exploration at all. I am, without a doubt, a much better explorer than him!
1) Who was the one who initiated Portugal's interest in exploration? Who created a school for navigation? I did. I am the Prince of Portugal. I am called Prince Henry the Navigator. I am the most important pioneer of explortion. It is true that I did not explore distant lands, but I did fund many explorations. I wanted to seek treasure and wealth outside of Europe. Since I was a devout Catholic, I sought to spread the Good News to other nations. I was the one who founded the navigation school in Portugal. I funded and organized more than 14 expeditions to west Africa. It was because of me that my country was able to extablish trading posts in west Africa. Clearly, I was the most important pioneer of exploration.
2) I can't believe that Bartholomeu Dias is Portuguese! I am the Prince of Portugal, and it hurts for me to see that the weakest explorer is Portuguese. Dias did not even do anything in the field of exploration. A STORM made him explore the other side of Africa. He didn't even go above and beyond and atempt to go to India. He turned back! He is a disgrace to Portugal. Bartholomeu Dias truly is the weakest explorer of his time.
1. I ,Chirstopher Columbus was the greatest explorer this world has ever seen. Without my discovery of the Americas. North America and and the carribean would probably never have transformed into some of the most proseperous contries in the world. Also without my discovery the future exploration of North and South America would probably not have a occurred. I set up colonies that continued to provide wealth and prosperity for Spain. Unlike other explores like Bartholomeu Dias I didn't stop my entire journey when the wind picked up. There for I am the greatest explorer in the world.
2. The worst explorer in the entire world has to be Magellan. He didn't even sail around the world he died half way. Out of his 250 men only 18 men survived the trip. He had a duty to his men and he betrayed them by embarking on a journey which resulted in their deaths.
1. I, Vasco da Gama, am the best explorer of this time period. I was the first to reach India. Explorers like Dias only made it to different parts of Africa, while I made a 27,000 mile journey all the way to India. When my crew and I reached the port of Calicut, we found spices, silks, and gems that were rare in our part of the world and amazing. We returned with enough of these to equal 60 times what our journey cost. All this makes me the best.
2. Prince Henry was obviously the weakest explorer. He can not really even be called an explorer because he did barely any exploring. He only traveled to one place, which was not that far away. Yes, he was great for starting a school for explorers, but that does not make him one too.
1) I, Christopher Columbus, believe that I am the mostimportant explorer during the age of exploration. Not only did I discover an entire new continent, but I also have been very well remembered for my 'discovery' of the Americas in modern times. I also pioneered Western Exploration and conquered many of the tribes native to the areas, claiming the natural resources of their lands for my country.
2) Vasco daGama was by far tooting his horn more than he deserved. Can he claim that he discovered a continent like me, or established efficient trade routes like Henry or Bartholemew? The answer, my friends, is no. All that he can be accredited with amounts to the discovery of an ocean, which was already in use by other nations at the time.
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