Conquest in the Americas The First Global Age: Europe, the Americas, and Africa

First Encounters In 1492 Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean (West Indies) The Spanish were in search of gold, and to convert people to Christianity Spanish conquistadors, or conquerors, followed in the wake of Columbus They settled on the islands of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti)

Result of Encounters Diseases such as smallpox, measles and influenza were carried by the Europeans The Native Americans had no immunity, or resistance to the diseases. The diseases wiped out villages and the Native American population of the Caribbean islands declined by as much as 90% in the 1500s.

The Conquistadors Hernan Cortes landed in Mexico in 1519 with 600 men, 16 horses and a few cannons. He went to Tenochtitlan, helped by an Indian woman named Malinche (the Spanish called her Dona Maria). Cortes learned from her that he could make alliances with the groups that hated the Aztecs and they would help him fight the Aztecs. Aztec emperor Moctezuma heard of the arrival of the newcomers. He thought it may be Quetzalcoatl, the god-king returned from the east.

Fall of Tenochtitlan Moctezuma welcomed Cortes to Tenochtitlan. However, fighting broke out between the Aztecs and the Spaniards With help from Indian allies, Moctezuma was captured and killed In 1521, after a three-month siege, Cortes and his Indian allies captured and demolished Tenochtitlan On its ruins, the Spanish build Mexico City.

Pizarro in Peru Cortés's success inspired other adventurers, such as Francisco Pizarro. Pizarro arrived in Peru in 1532, just after the Incan ruler Atahualpa won the throne in a civil war. Helped by Indian allies, Pizarro captured Atahualpa after slaughtering thousands of his followers. From Peru, Spanish forces surged across Ecuador and Chile

Reasons for Victory 1. Superior military technology. The Spaniards’ horses frightened some Indians, who had never seen them before. Spanish muskets and cannons killed Indian soldiers, while metal helmets and armor protected the Spanish from the Indians’ arrows and spears. 2. Division and discontent among the Indians aided the Spanish. The Spanish won allies by playing on rivalries. 3. Disease brought by the Europeans weakened the Aztecs and the Incas. Natives had no immunity to the diseases. 4. Many Indians believed the disasters marked the world’s end.

Colonies in the Americas

Spanish Empire Spain maintained strict control King appointed viceroys (representatives) to rule. Catholic Church played a key role. Spain controlled trade closely. Spanish monarchs granted the conquistadors encomiendas When some argued against using Native Americans, the Spanish began using African slaves to fill the need for labor. At the top of colonial society were peninsulares, people born in Spain.

Portuguese Empire The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 gave Brazil to Portugal. Portugal greatly influenced Brazil for many years. Early settlers clung to the coast or turned to plantation agriculture and cattle raising. Forced Indians and Africans to clear land for sugar plantations.

French Empire In the early 1500s, French fishing merchants settled into New France (Canada). First settlement built by Samuel de Champlain in 1608 in Quebec. French explorers went inland and soon New France spread from Quebec down to the Gulf of Mexico. Most were fur trappers, traders, or fishermen. The French had the most land, but the population remained relatively small.

British Empire The English built their first permanent colony at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. In the 1600s and 1700s, the English established 13 colonies. Some for commercial ventures others for religious freedom Many settlers were farmers who used slave labor to clear land and raise crops The British had the most people in their colonies English colonists had a great deal of self- governance

Competition After naval wars, the English seized the Dutch colony of New Netherland in 1664 and renamed it New York During the 1700s, Britain and France emerged as bitter rivals In North America, the French and Indian War raged from 1754 to 1763. The Seven Years’ War erupted in Europe in 1756 and spread to India and Africa. The British won control of Canada In 1763 the Treaty of Paris officially ended the world- wide war Ensured British dominance in North America