Exploring the Americas 1400-1625

Exploring the Americas Essential Question What events and technological advances paved the way for European Exploration?

The Renaissance and the Growth of Ideas The Renaissance “re-birth” changed the way Europeans thought about themselves and the world. Period of intellectual and artistic creativity Merchants, bankers and monarchs sought greater profits through foreign trade Wanted to make their countries stronger and wealthier Paved the way for an age of exploration and discovery

Technologies Impact Advances in technology paved the way for European voyages and exploration. Better maps and instruments: Cartographers improved their map making skills as they acquired techniques and information from Arab map makers. Astrolabe Magnetic Compass

Better Ships Based on Arab designs, European ships improved greatly. Bigger Stronger Could sail into the wind With increased competition for foreign trade, countries like Portugal and Spain worked hard to better their ships and launched an era of exploration!

Making Connections Answer the Essential Question: What events and technological advances paved the way for European Exploration? European interest in Asia due to growth of trade Increased wealth Improved maps and navigation instruments Advances in ship design Desire for gold and slaves from Africa

Early Exploration Essential Question: Why did Spain and Portugal want to find a sea route to Asia?

Early Portuguese Voyages Prince Henry the Navigator helped lay the groundwork for the era of exploration in the early 1400s. Portuguese ships travelled along the coast of West Africa trading for gold and ivory. Area became known as the “Gold Coast” Vasco da Gama Sailed around Cape of Good Hope (tip of Africa) Explored east coast of Africa Discovered eastern sea route to Asia

Portuguese Trading Empire Six months after da Gama’s return, 13 ships left Portugal for the east. Course swung so wide around Africa, they reached Brazil. Gave Portugal a stake in the Americas. Eventually reached India and returned with spices, porcelain and other goods that helped them set up a trading empire.

The Viking Voyages Centuries before Columbus, northern Europeans called Vikings sailed to North America. 800s and 900s – Established settlements in Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland. Viking voyages to other lands were not well known.

Spain Backs Columbus Spanish were envious of Portugal’s trading success with India and Asia. Columbus sought sponsorship from Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain who agreed for 2 reasons. Promised to bring Christianity to any lands he found Spain would become wealthy through any trade Columbus opened up

Columbus’s First Voyage August 3, 1492 – sets out with ships the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. October 12, 1492 – “Tierra! Tierra!” Finds small group of Islands (Bahamas) Convinced he has found the East Indies (Islands off coast of Asia)

Columbus’s Later Voyages Explored Caribbean islands of Hispaniola, Cuba and Jamaica. Claimed lands for Spain and mapped Central American coastline. Eventually realized he had found new lands (America) and began to set up settlements.

Dividing the World Both Spain and Portugal want to protect their claims in America. Line of demarcation (1493) Imaginary line running down the middle of the Atlantic from North Pole to South Pole Spain got everything to the west Portugal got everything to the east

Other Explorers Amerigo Vespucci Ferdinand Magellan Sailed along South America’s coast – came to the conclusion that it was not part of Asia Ferdinand Magellan Reached tip of South America and sailed through a strait to the Pacific Ocean His crew was first to circumnavigate, or sail around the world

Making Connections How did Henry the Navigator further exploration? Answer the Essential Question: Why did Portugal and Spain want to find a sea route to Asia? If the Portuguese and Spanish could find a sea route directly to Asia, they could trade directly with India and China.

Spain in America Essential Question: How did Spain’s conquests affect the economic and social development of the Americas?

Spain in America Main Idea! Spanish explorers conquered Native American empires and found new lands.

Cortes Conquers the Aztecs Hernan Cortes formed alliances with many of the people the Aztecs had conquered. Cortes enters Tenochtitlan with over 500 soldiers, horses, cannons and Native American allies. Emperor Montezuma welcomed them to the city but is taken prisoner. Aztec capital is destroyed in 1521 and Spanish take over the region.

Pizarro Conquers the Inca Francisco Pizarro (conquistador) sailed down coast of South America. 1532 – Captures and executes the Incan ruler Atahualpa. Without their ruler, Incans could not fight effectively. Pizarro gained most of the Incan empire for Spain.

Why Spain Succeeded The conquistadors victories over the Aztec and Inca were quick and lasting. How could Cortes and Pizarro, with only their small armies conquer such mighty empires? Weapons (Guns, Cannons) Horses Spanish seemed godlike Dislike of Aztec overlords Disease! No immunity to European diseases!

Spanish Rule Throughout the early 1500s, more and more settlements were set up by the Spanish. Spanish law called for 3 kinds of settlements in the Americas… Pueblos – towns established as centers of trade Missions – religious communities including a small town, farmland and a church Presidios – Forts usually built near missions

Social Classes *In the 1500s, the Spanish government granted conquistadors the right to demand taxes or labor from Native Americans - Encomienda

Bartolome de las Casas Spanish priest who condemned cruel treatment of Native Americans. Claimed that millions had died because the Spanish “made gold their ultimate aim, seeking to load themselves with riches in the shortest amount of time.” Reports influenced Spanish government to forbid making slaves of the Native Americans. Not always enforced, but helped correct some of the worst abuses.

The Plantation System Main exports from the Americas became tobacco and sugarcane. Spanish developed plantations and used Native Americans for labor. Las Casas suggested replacing the Native Americans with Africans. By the end of the 1500s, plantation slave labor was an essential part of the economy of the colonies.

Making Connections How did Spain’s conquests affect the economic and social development of the Americas? Spanish destroyed the Aztec and Inca Empires Settled in pueblos, missions and presidios Introduced Catholicism, horses and cattle Relegated Native Americans to lower classes Introduced slaves to support plantations How did slavery begin in the Americas? Las Casas suggested replacing natives with Africans Slave labor became important to the colonial economy

Exploring North America Essential Question: Why did European nations establish colonies in North America?

Columbian Exchange Era of exploration brought America together with Europe, Asia and Africa. Contacts led to an exchange in plants, animals and diseases.

Hudson’s Discoveries Netherlands (Dutch) want to find a passage through the Americas 1609 – Henry Hudson discovers Hudson River 1610 – Sent by England Discovered the Hudson Bay

Dutch Settlements Eager to explore North America Set up New Netherland colony New Amsterdam as center on tip of Manhattan Island

French Trading Posts Showed little interest in building an empire Focused on Fishing Fur trading 1608 – Sent Samuel de Champlain to found a settlement in Quebec

Making Connections How did France’s goals in North America differ from those of other European nations? Answering the Essential Question: Why did European nations establish colonies in North America? To become wealthy and powerful Obtain resources To trade and sell European products