The Atlantic World 1492 - 1800 `

Spanish Conquest in the Americas Competition for wealth between European nations was fierce. Christopher Columbus attempts to find a trading route to Asia. Instead he ends up in the West Indies.

Christopher Columbus This Italian who sailed for Spain would change the world forever. On October 12, 1492, Columbus’s expedition sees land. This will open the Western Hemisphere to European colonization.

Colonial Empire A colony is land that is controlled by another country. The advantages of a colony are… 1. Gold. 2. Raw materials. 3. Markets. 4. Military advantage. 5. Soldiers

What advantages does a country get for establishing a colony?

The New World Columbus had landed in the Bahamas. He enslaved the indigenous population to mine for gold. Soon most of the Taino population would die from exhaustion, disease & cruelty.

Soon, more explorers follow In 1500, Pedro Alvares Cabral reaches the shore of Brazil. Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian sailing for Portugal sails down the coast of South America. Upon his return, German map makers name the New World after him.

What do you think is the most difficult part of exploration?

The Pacific Ocean Vasco de Balboa marched through modern day Panama. He became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean Ferdinand Magellan will attempt the boldest exploration yet…

Ferdinand Magellan Magellan will attempt to circumnavigate the globe or sail around the world. With 250 men & five ships, he sailed past South America into the Pacific. They ran out of food & drinking water and were months at sea without seeing land.

Ferdinand Magellan The crew was reduced to eating saw dust and insects. After reaching the Philippines, Magellan got involved in a local war and was murdered. His crew continued without him.

Around the World! They had lost men and ships to disease, starvation and war. When they returned to Spain in 1522, only 18 men & one ship remained. It was three years after they had left.

Spain Builds an American Empire

Hernado Cortes Cortes lands on the shores of Mexico in 1519. Cortes was a Spanish explorer and warrior called a conquistador. In Mexico he found the Aztec Empire. The Aztec were rich in gold.

Hernado Cortes In 1519, Cortes reaches the Aztec Empire and sees their vast wealth. He arrives with 600 men and burns his ships once in Mexico. He convinces the Aztec king, Montezuma II that he is a god.

Gold Cortes introduces the first horses to North America. His appearance on a horse gives him a God like image. The Aztec shower him with gold, but he wants more.

Human Sacrifice & Cannibalism The Aztec believed that human sacrifice would appease their Gods. This practice was done during religious ceremonies on huge pyramids.

Cortes’s War The Aztecs rebelled against the Spanish conquistadors. Cortes superior weaponry, alliances with local tribes & disease helped Cortes defeat the Aztecs. Montezuma II is stoned to death by his own people Mexico’s population goes from 25.3 million in 1520 to 1 million in 1600.

Francisco Pizarro Pizarro and two hundred men defeat the Incan Empire in Peru. They defeated a force of 30,000 men & kidnapped the Incan King, Atahualpa. Pizarro received a hefty ransom, but murdered the King anyway.

Spanish Conquest The labor system for Spanish colonies was called encomienda. Local populations were forced to farm, mine & ranch for their Spanish masters. This led to an abusive existence for most laborers.

Social Classes of Spanish colonies. Peninsulares - Men born in Spain who run the colonies. Mestizo - Spanish and Native American mix. Natives Mulattos - European & African mix. Slaves

The Atlantic Slave Trade 1500 - 1865

The Evolution of Slavery African slavery was used to replace Native American labor in European colonies. Slavery has been around since the dawn of man. Slavery by race and religion is rare. In African slavery, usually between Muslims, slaves could have social mobility.

The Need for Africans The Portuguese were the first to import African to the Americas as slaves. They were traded for gold in the 1400’s. They had been exposed to European diseases, so, they would not die and have to be replaced.

Advantages of African Slaves. Africans had developed immune systems from contact with Europeans. Also, they were experienced farmers with advanced farming techniques. These slaves were strangers to the Americas, therefore, they had no where to run to.

Atlantic Slave Trade Between 1500 and 1600, 300,000 African slaves were taken to America across the Atlantic. The next century had 1.2 million slaves transported in the Atlantic slave trade. By the time it ends nearly 9.5 million slaves crossed the Atlantic.

In the picture, what attitudes and realities are shown?