Exploring ‘New’ Worlds and Lands

Renaissance Continued? How might Renaissance Spirit have contributed to Exploration..? –Classical Learning- Renaissance society had wanted to learn more –Worldly Pleasures- Focused on living in this world; enjoying what the world had to offer was a way to accomplish this –Celebration of the Individual- Glory for explorers (& eventually nations)

Motivations The Historical ‘3 Gs’ of Exploration: Gold –A LOT of $$$ to be had in Exploring the Seas –Starts with the search for Spices and grows to other elements (gold/silver, cotton, coffee, etc.) –Increase in demand due to Crusades Glory –Have one’s name remembered forever… eventually turned into a source of national pride God: Spread Christianity –Sacred duty to convert all non-believers

How explore? New Technologies Caravel: –constructed frame- first and covered with planks fitted flush to one another. –carried three or even four masts with lateen (square or triangle) sails.

Astrolabe: used to determine latitude of a ship at sea by measuring the noon altitude of the sun Compass: used to indicate direction

Portuguese Prince Henry –School of navigation –Quest for riches and Christian Kingdom Africa (1441) –Gold & Ivory –Slaves: good labor source after plague 60 years—50,000 African Slaves –Gold Coast & Western Africa trading posts

Portuguese Explorers Bartholomew Dias –Hits the tip of Africa –(Cape of Good Hope) Vasco da Gama –July 8, 1494 leave for India –10 months later arrives Calicut, India –Returns with cinnamon & pepper in 1499 to heroes welcome –Leads to agreement with Arabs for exclusive trade thru Indian Ocean, China, and the Spice Islands

Spanish Explorers (aka Sailors) Columbus –Helped to propel Spain into the forefront of European exploration, conquest, & settlement Amerigo Vespucci Vasco Nunez de Balboa –Claims Pacific Ocean for Spain Magellan – Travel around the world –Proves world was bigger than thought; Americas a separate continent

Northwest Passage Many explorers (Columbus incl.) were trying to find an alternate route to Asia (China/India) –Instead of going East, we can go West to get to Asia. Explorers believed there was water way that led to Asia. Named The Northwest Passage, this mythical body of water was believed to: 1.Go directly from Europe to Asia and then later 2.Connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans –Unfortunately, it did not exist, and North America stood in their way

Rivalries on the High Seas Spain vs. Portugal –Pope Alexander VI and later Julius II demands both countries sign Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) Line of Demarcation define what territories was Spanish and Portuguese in the New World West= Spain East= Portugal

Exploration in Africa Exploration to Africa begins with Dias and De Gama Search for profit: Africa was a region rich in resources 16 th century: Establishment of plantations and Slave Trade Effect on African continent?

Exploration to Americas Columbus begins in 1492: Search for route to India and eventually the NW Passage Establishment of Spanish and Portuguese colonies Conquest of ancient Indigenous American civilizations –Aztecs (Cortes) –Inca (Pizarro)

Latin American Colonial Life Spanish-Dominated colonial structure/Hierarchy of Power (why would they do this?) –Peninsulares –Creoles –Mestizoes –Mulatoes Treatment of Indigenous Population Spread of Christianity

CONSEQUENCES OF CONTACT/EXPLORATION Europe dominates much of the world from 1500 to 1900 Connection of Africa, America, and Europe’s economies and politics Trade (sharing of ideas), Different foods introduced (Corn/Maize, Fruits, Potato) helped end famine in both ends of the world. Advancement of Western Civilization, precursor to the United States

CONSEQUENCES OF CONTACT/EXPLORATION Epidemics (Diseases that spread quicker than they can be cured): Small Pox, Influenza. These diseases were devastating to the people of the Americas because the Indigenous (Native) population had not yet built immunities to the diseases. Indigenous Population of the Americas in 1492: million. Indigenous Population of the Americas in 1750: Less than 500,000

CONSEQUENCES OF CONTACT/EXPLORATION Encomiendas: System of forced labor indigenous Americans had to endure…horrible working conditions Atlantic Slave Trade: –Triangular Trade between Europe, Africa, Americas –Middle Passage (2 million die in transit) –11 Million Come to Americas