Spanish Conquests in Americas 1492 – Columbus Landed in island in Caribbean Called inhabitants los indios, “Indians” Spain finance 3 more trips, Columbus became empire builder Established colonies – lands controlled by another nation

Portuguese Explorers Amerigo Vespucci – Italian in service of Portugal Traveled eastern coast of South America New land wasn’t Asia but new world Named new continent in honor of Vespucci Vasco Nunez de Balboa First European to reach Pacific through Panama Ferdinand Magellan Sailed around southern tip of S. America to Pacific Died in war in Phillipines 18 of original men first to circumnavigate world

Spain Builds Empire Hernando Cortes Conquistadors – conquerors Carved out colonies into regions of Mexico, S. America and U.S. Driven by Gold, Glory and God Landed in Mexico, learned wealth of Aztecs Montezuma II convinced Cortes armor-clad god Agreed to give share of empire’s gold Cortes forced Aztecs to mine for gold and silver Aztecs rebelled but fell to Cortes and his men

Downfall of Aztecs and Incas Superior Weapons Muskets and Cannons outdueled Aztec arrows Help of Native Groups Cortes learned natives resented Aztecs, convinced them to fight alongside him Disease Measles, mumps, smallpox No natural immunity Hundreds of thousands died

Spanish Conquest Continues Francisco Pizarro Conquered Incas Captured Inca ruler, who offered room of gold and silver for his release Strangled Inca ruler, leaving remainign Incas to retreat Mestizo – mixed Spanish and Native American Due to mostly men settling, marriages between Spanish and natives were common

Encomienda System Used to exploit lands resources Natives farmed, ranched or mined for Spanish landlords Landlords promised Spanish rulers they would act fairly and respect workers Many abused and worked laborers to death

Spain Expands North Powerful Navy to protect treasure filled ships Ponce de Leon Claimed Florida for Spain Francisco Coronado Led expedition through Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas Found little gold in desert lands Spain sent priests to explore and colonize U.S. Conquistadors = search for wealth Priests = search for converts

Opposition to Spanish Priest spread Christianity Pushed for better treatment of Native Americans Criticized Encomienda system Government abolished Encomienda for use of African slaves Priests burned native books and prohibit rituals

Slavery in Africa African POW’s and criminals transported to Muslim lands of SW Asia Worked as domestic servants In African and Muslim societies, slaves had legal rights and social mobility Muslims – position of influence and power, ex. generals African – not hereditary, could escape slavery by marrying family they served

Slavery Different in America Auctioned to highest bidder Worked in mines, fields or as domestic servants Little food, small huts Worked long days with beatings and whippings Life long and hereditary Resisted slavery by making themselves less productive and hurting owners profit

Atlantic Slave Trade Buying and selling Africans to work in Americas 9.5 million transported by 1870 When Natives began dying from disease, looked to Africans Already exposed to disease and built immunity Farming experience and could be taught large-scale plantation work Less likely to escape from lack of knowledge with land and tribes

Consequences of A.S.T. Africa Cultures lose fittest members Families torn apart Firearms spread war as Chiefs traded slaves for guns Americas Colonies wouldn’t survived without back-breaking labor Expertise to agriculture Culture

Triangular Trade One Route Europeans transported manufactured goods Traders exchanged goods for captured Africans Africans transported across Atlantic and sold in West Indies Merchants bought sugar, coffee, and tobacco in West Indies Sailed back to Europe to sell

Triangular Trade Another Route Merchants carried rum/other goods From New England colonies to Africa Exchanged merchandise for Africans Traders exported Africans to West Indies and sold for sugar and molasses Sold goods to rum producers in New England\ Middle Passage Voyage that brought Africans to West Indies and N./S. America Middle leg of transatlantic trade triangle