Spain Claims an Empire Chapter 2, Section 1

Exploring the Americas In the 1400’s, the Italians and Arab merchants ran the trade markets in Europe. Other Europeans became envious of their wealth and wished to find different routes to Asia.

Henry the Navigator 1400’s, a Portuguese prince, began a school of navigation. Led sailing expeditions to and from the western coasts of Africa. Developed the caravel, an improved and faster ship for traveling. Best ship of its time!

Bartolomeu Dias Portuguese Explorer, in 1488 reached the southern tip of Africa. Is said to have named the southern most tip “Cape of Good Hope” because he hoped he had found a route to Asia.

Vasco de Gamma 1498, continued Dias’s route around the Cape of Good Hope and reached the eastern shores of Africa. Sailed across Indian Ocean and reached India. At last, someone found an all-water route to Asia!

Vasco De Gama’s Route

Christopher Columbus Italian sailor, thought he knew of a faster route to Asia. Obtained sponsorship from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Assembled three ships- the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Left harbor on August 3, 1491. Reached an island in the Caribbean Sea, named it San Salvador. Continued onward, and reached an island in which he named La Espanola, known today as Hispaniola. He returned to Europe believing he had found an all-water route to Asia. No one suspected that Columbus had found undiscovered continents.

Amerigo Vespucci 1501, Italian Sailor, set out to find an all sea route to Asia. Reached North American lands and realized it was not Asia. A German map maker impressed by his findings named the continent “America” in honor of him.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa In 1513, Spanish explorer led an expedition through the jungles of the Panama in search gold. Reached the Pacific Ocean, claimed surrounding lands for Spain.

Ferdinand Magellan Portuguese explorer who proposed that he could reach Asian lands by sailing around South America. In 1519, he set sail from Spain and sailed around South American reaching the Pacific Ocean. Magellan later landed in the Philippines where he experienced conflict and was killed by local natives. Magellan’s crew forged ahead and completed the expedition becoming the first crew to sail around the world.

Dividing up the World In 1492, due to a surplus of European exploration, Pope Alexander VI drew an imaginary line around the world to decide who would control the lands that sailors claimed. The line became known as the “Line of Demarcation.” Portugal could claim all non-Christian lands to the east of the line, while Spain had rights to all non-Christian lands to the west.

Treaty of Tordesillas Portugal’s King John II believed that the Line of Demarcation heavy favored Spain. June 1494- Portugal and Spain met to redraw the line. The treaty moved the line some 800 miles further west. The redrawing of the line allowed Portugal to claim lands in the Eastern Hemisphere (i.e. South American territories).

Goals of the Age of Exploration 1.) Spread Christianity beyond Europe. Use of missionaries, people sent to convert natives. 2.) Expand their Empires. Mercantilism- the colony exists for the sole purpose of benefiting the mother country. 3.) Riches- Natural Resources- spice, gold, silver, native crops.

The Invasion of Mexico In 1519, Hernando Cortés landed in Mexico with 508 conquistadors to invade the Aztec people. Cortés knew how vulnerable the Aztecs were- for they were not a unified nation. The Aztec emperor Montezuma II feared Cortés was an Aztec god sent to reclaim the throne. Montezuma II showered Cortés with gifts. This only exited the Spanish of what riches could be found.

The Invasion of Mexico Cortés reached the capital city of Tenochtitlán. May 1521, Cortés captures the city with the help of an unusual suspect- Smallpox. Tenochtitlán laid in ruins and the Aztec nation existed no more. Mexico City would later be built upon the ancient ruins.

The Inca Empire Falls In 1531, Francisco Pizarro led 180 men into Peru Incan emperor Atahualpa went to greet the Spanish visitors, but thousands of Incans would die at the hands of the Spanish. Atahualpa was captured and later killed. The once powerful empire collapsed. Pizarro claimed the land for Spain and took all the gold and natural resources he could.

How did the great Aztec and Incan empires fall? 1.) The Spanish weakened the Aztec and Inca empires by making alliances with their enemies. 2.) The spread of European diseases killed millions of Native Americans. 3.) Over time, the Spanish acted brutally toward the Natives they had under their control.