Chapter 3 Section 1 Spain Prepares for Exploration

Reconquista 800 years before Columbus set sail Spanish Christians vs. Islamic Moors –Moors from northwest Africa

The Moors 711—Moors gained control of Spain Brought great wealth to region

The Christians Viewed retaking the land a necessity Believed God wanted them to drive out “unbelieving” Moors Had hard time pushing Moors out –Due to divisions among forces –Fought among themselves –Finally managed to push Moors out

Reconquista Completed Granada –Last Moor stronghold –1492—Spanish Christians pushed Moors out –Reconquista over –Spain now fully under Spanish control

1492 History Leonardo da Vinci draws a flying machine Ivan the Great (Russia) invades Lithuania

da Vinci’s Flying Machine

The 3 G’s Soldiers –Way for Spanish men to have better lives –When enemy defeated, wealth was taken –Mighty warrior=honor –Gold –Glory –God

Change of Purpose After defeating Moors, soldiers lost their purpose Soldiers now looking for new lands to conquer

Christopher Columbus Experienced sailor Born in Italy Lived in Portugal –Portuguese among Europe’s leading overseas explorers

Christopher Columbus 1453 –Turks captured Constantinople –Price of oriental trade goods went up in Europe –Fortune to be made if route to “the Indies” could be found that bypassed Muslim- controlled territories

Christopher Columbus Columbus came up with plan to sail west going long way around and arriving at China from east Tried to interest King John of Portugal –Portuguese working on own exploration route going down coast of Africa—not interested 1486—Columbus left for Spain to interest them

King John II Portuguese explorations were his main priority in government

Christopher Columbus Spain involved in Reconquista Spanish King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella had neither time nor money for Columbus’s plan Columbus stayed in Spain waiting for opportunity

Columbus’s 1 st Voyage Columbus departed from port of Palos (near Huelva) on August 3, ships –Nina –Pinta –Santa Maria

Columbus’ 1 st Voyage October 12, 1492 –Land sighted by Rodrigo de Triana –Columbus called it San Salvador “They ought to make good and skilled servants, for they repeat very quickly whatever we say to them. I think they can very easily be made Christians, for they seem to have no religion. If it pleases our Lord, I will take six of them to Your Highnesses when I depart, in order that they may learn our language."

Columbus’ 1 st Voyage October 28—explored Cuba December 5—explored Hispaniola –Santa Maria ran aground

The Nina –Smallest of the fleet –captained by Vicente Añes Pinzón –probably 50 or 60 tons

The Pinta –captained by Martín Alonso Pinzón –a smaller, lighter, and faster ship than the tubby Santa Maria –probably was about 70 tons –Fastest of the three

The Santa Maria –broad and slow, designed for hauling cargo –Weighed about 100 tons –The slowest of the 3

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