Exploration and Expansion

Prediction What motivated explores to risk their lives on dangerous voyages to the ends of the Earth?

Motives Europeans wanted to trade with Asia for things such as spices and precious metals Land routes were blocked by enemies People wanted to spread Christianity Explorers wanted the glory of being part expanding their country “God, glory, and gold”

In Your Own Words “God, glory, and gold” are three words to describe the motives of European explorers. What are three other words you could use?

Portuguese Explorers Portugal began exploring down the western coast of Africa looking for gold Vasco da Gama found a route to India by going around the tip of Africa in 1498 He brought back spices and made a profit of several thousand percent If you bought $100 dollars worth of spices, how much would you make?

Spanish Explorers Educated Europeans knew the world was round but not how large it was The Spanish sailed west to find an alternate route to India Christopher Columbus set sail and landed in Cuba Ferdinand Magellan was the first to make it around the globe as he sailed down the coast of South America and arrived in the Philippines

Who gets what? Spain and Portugal both were concerned who was going to claim the new territories They signed the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 Created a line from north to south through the Atlantic Ocean and the easternmost part of South American continent. East would be Portugal, west would be Spain

The “New World”? There were several civilizations that had already been thriving in the Americas The Spanish took over the Aztec and Inca civilizations Both put up a fight however disease made it hard for them to fight back Spanish brought their religion and society Catholic monks converted Native Americans Missionaries brought parishes, schools, and hospitals

The Columbian Exchange Spanish Queen Isabella declared the Spanish settlers “encomienda” This allowed them to use Native Americans as laborers Was supposed to protect them but did not work Started plantations and ranches to raise sugar, cotton, vanilla, livestock and other exports Began exchanging with Europe creating the Columbia Exchange

What could you have done? Queen Isabella’s plan failed. Do you think they could have done anything to protect the Native Americans?

Not just Spain and Portugal The English, Dutch, and French all became involved in exploration and trade The Dutch created the East India Company to trade in the Indian Ocean They all began colonizing in the Americas England took over the entire east coast of North America But Spain still had the largest area controlling all of Latin America

Prediction What do you think happens next?