AGE OF EXPLORATION-THE AMERICAS

EMERGENCE OF CONQUISTADORS MOTIVATION of all Explorers---”3 Gs” GOD---spread Christianity, mission from God GOLD---untapped wealth & riches GLORY---fame and fortune Christopher Columbus→1st encounters w/Natives Took several as prisoner, claimed the land for Spain Other conquistadors, or conquerors, followed his example Conquistadors only numbered in the hundreds, compared to millions of Native Americans… So how did they conquer?

GUNS, GERMS & STEEL (...and horses) Guns/Cannons/Steel Armor vs. Arrows/Spears Advantage Spanish Conquistadors Brought horses, which Native Americans had never seen before Useful in battle & w/carrying supplies Europeans unknowingly brought diseases (smallpox, measles, influenza) w/them Natives had no immunity, or resistance and were ravaged As much as a 90% decline in population

CORTES CONQUERS MEXICO Led expedition to Mexico that ended with conquest of Aztec Empire Moctezuma-Aztec emperor powerful and ruled much of Mexico unpopular with conquered peoples Sacrificed thousands of captives to Aztec Gods Cortés used this to his advantage Malinche, Native American translator Arranged alliances w/them

CORTES CONQUERS MEXICO Advantages for Cortés: Spanish soldiers joined by thousands of Native Americans Malinche (translator) metal weapons, heavy armor, guns, horses, disease November 8, 1519: Cortés and army entered Tenochtitlán, took emperor prisoner, took the city and entire Aztec Empire Aztec Mexico-30 Million Natives in 1519; 3 Million in 1568

PIZARRO CONQUERS PERU Francisco Pizarro about 10 years after conquest of Aztecs, led expedition to Peru heard of wealthy Inca Empire...

PIZARRO CONQUERS PERU Inca Empire already weakened smallpox, civil war, new ruler Atahualpa Atahualpa heard of arrival of Spaniards and agreed to meet with them in 1532 Pizarro demanded that Atahualpa accept Christianity and relinquish empire Atahualpa refused...Pizarro took him prisoner Destroyed Inca army and took over empire

SPAIN IN CARIBBEAN Hispaniola and Cuba Encomienda system: A colonist was given a certain amount of land and a number of Native Americans to work the land for him In exchange, the colonist was required to teach the native workers about Christianity System became the basis for nearly all Spanish settlements on the mainland as well

SPAIN IN CARIBBEAN Disastrous for Native Americans overworked mistreated diseases smallpox, tuberculosis, measles

LIFE IN THE SPANISH EMPIRE viceroys: officials chosen by Spanish king to govern American holdings Colonial economy based largely on gold and silver mining, some farming

LIFE IN THE SPANISH EMPIRE Some were appalled at the treatment of natives Bartolomé de Las Casas priest, vocal reformer seeking to protect Native Americans recommended replacing them with imported African slaves

EFFECTS OF CONQUISTADORS Spanish established gold & silver mines in Mexico & Peru that turned Spain into Europe’s greatest power Native Americans decimated, tens of thousands dead Many converted to Christianity in an attempt to end their suffering By establishing empires in Americas, Spain changed pattern of global exploration For the first time, much of the world was now connected by sea routes, on which traveled ships carrying goods, people and ideas

STRUGGLES FOR NORTH AMERICA New France Several colonies in Canada Hoped to be source of gold and silver found disappointment Other valuable trade goods: fish, forests, furs

NEW FRANCE Unlike Spanish and Portuguese, did not send large numbers of colonists only small groups of traders Did not enslave Native Americans source of furs, became trading partners and allies

THE ENGLISH COLONIES 1st colony established at Jamestown, VA in 1607 Hoped for gold and silver, river route to the Pacific marshy ground and impure water 80% died during first winter

THE ENGLISH COLONIES 1620, Pilgrims who had been persecuted in England for religious beliefs settled Plymouth, MA Self-sufficient within 5 years Ruled by Britain, Compact-agreement among themselves detailing how they would govern

BRITISH-FRENCH CONFLICT French & Indian War (1754-1763) began in North America & spread to Europe, India & Africa Went badly for British at first, eventually French surrendered Treaty of Paris France yielded Canada and all territory east of the Mississippi River Controlled much more land, but costs of the war led to taxes on the colonists...