ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

European and American voyages of scientific exploration

Okay kiddo, let me tell you about something called "voyages of scientific exploration". A long time ago, people from different parts of the world wanted to learn more about the world around them. They wanted to find out about different plants, animals, and people that they didn't know before. So they decided to go on long trips to explore and discover new things. These trips were called "voyages of exploration".

One famous example of these voyages was when European explorers like Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama travelled to new lands like the Americas and India. They wanted to find new trade routes, resources and land to claim for their countries. But they also wanted to learn about the people, plants, and animals in these new lands.

Similarly, American explorers like Lewis and Clark set off on trips to discover new territories in the western US. During their journey, they studied the geography, flora, and fauna of this new territory. They also met and interacted with Native American tribes, learning about their cultures and way of life.

On these voyages, scientists gathered all kinds of information and samples - like plants, rocks, and soil - to bring back and study in their labs. They wrote about their observations and discoveries, which helped us understand and learn more about the world we live in.

In short, people long ago went on exciting trips to learn about new lands, people, and animals. They brought back information and samples to study and learn more about the world, and we still learn from their explorations today.