Original PromptCreate a slideshow that explores the inventions that allowed and the reason why Europeans began to explore and eventually find the new world for 7th graders.
This lesson focuses on the pivotal changes in global trade during the transition from the ancient Silk Road to the era of Atlantic Exploration. Students will engage with concepts such as supply chains, the significance of spices in trade, and the technological innovations—like the astrolabe, magnetic compass, and caravel—that enabled explorers to navigate the open seas. The lesson includes a group discussion, map analysis, and activities that encourage students to reflect on the motivations for exploration: God, Gold, and Glory. Additionally, students will investigate the impact of the 1453 Ottoman blockade on world history and the subsequent search for new trade routes leading to the Age of Discovery.