Spain & the Americas

I. Voyages of Columbus Aug. 3, 1492: the Nina, Pinta, & Santa Maria East Indies? ---los indios Claimed San Salvador in the name of Spain NO GOLD! 1493: returned to Spain Sept. 1493: 2 nd journey (Empire!)

A. Other Explorers 1500: Pedro Alvares Cabral—Brazil 1501: Amerigo Vespucci—east coast of S. America--- this was a “new” world! Not Asia! 1510: Vasco Nunez de Balboa—first to see Pacific Ocean from Amers. 1519: Ferdinand Magellan—sailed around southern tip of S. Amer. into Pacific Reached Philippines, killed in a local war Only 18 men returned to Spain.

II. Spain in Mexico 1519: Hernando Cortes (Spaniard) 11 ships, 600 men Conquistadors Motivation?

A. Cortes Conquers the Aztecs Cortes reached Tenochtitlan Quetzacoatl? Montezuma II (Aztec Emp.) Cortes had a “disease of the heart that only gold can cure”

Diego Velasquez (Spanish Gov. of Cuba) Cuba suffered from labor shortage : sent expeditions to Yucatan Indications of a wealthy civ. Hernan Cortes was commissioned Explore, trade, recover Christian captives Artillery, 16 horsemen, 600 men Denounced authority of Velasquez Founded Villa Rica de la Cruz (“chief administrative officer”)

Villa Rica de la Cruz (“Rich Village of the True Cross”)

Goal of Cortes = CONQUER MEXICO! Wrote letter to King Charles V to justify his actions It would be a “just war” Two translators: Jeronimo Aguilar & Malinche Sought native allies (enemies of Aztecs) Cempoalans & Tlaxcalans Arrived at Tenochtitlan Quetzacoatl?

Cortes seized Montezuma Aztecs collected ransom $$$ Cortes left for a short time In his absence, his troops massacred an unarmed crowd UPRISING!! Cortes hoped Montezuma could calm the uprising Montezuma has sided w/the enemy??!! ---killed by a thrown stone Cortes retreated, regrouped, & returned w/reinforcements 1521: Cortes besieged Tenochtitlan Blockade, smallpox & measles broke out…laid waste to city Cortes’s success absolved him of punishment for action against Velasquez

III. Spain in Peru 1532: Francisco Pizarro & 200 men landed Inca had just ended civil war (Atahualpa) Piz. met Atah. at Cajamarca Atah. = 6,000 unarmed men Spaniards ambushed Inca Kidnapped Atah. (ransom) Piz. executed Atah. Proclaimed Manco emperor

1533:Pizarro ruled Incan Empire 1544: Spanish had ruthlessly taken over all of Incan territory New Spain = Mexico, Guatemala, Central/S.Amer., Caribbean

A. Spain’s Conquest Mestizo? Encomienda system? Land & labor grants by Spanish Crown Encomiendero took income/labor from land

B. Portugal in Brazil 1500: Pedro Alvares Cabral claimed Brazil for Port. Show me the money!!!??? Developed sugar plantations (big $ in Euro.)

IV. Spain Cont’d. to Expand 16 th Cent.—Spain = most-powerful in world!! Colonies produced big $$$ (gold/silver) Also—wheat, rice, indigo, cotton, coffee, sugar cane cattle, horses, & sheep

A. Spain in N. Amer. Also settled lands in southwestern U.S. 1513: Juan Ponce de Leon First governor of Puerto Rico Fountain of Youth? –discovered Florida (“flowery”)

: Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led expedition thru AZ, NM, TX, OK, & KA (no gold!) Spain sent priests : Pedro de Peralta (gov. of NM) est. Santa Fe (“Holy Faith”) as capital

V. Opposition to Spanish Rule Spanish priests = better treatment of Nat. Amers. Encomienderos were abusive to Amerindians Bartolome de Las Casas (Dominican friar) Amerindians should have equal rights New Law (1542): Most of its provisions were abandoned due to widespread protest Gradually, encomiendas were eliminated (Amerindians put on reservations)