Unit 1 Colonial Era and American Beginnings Chapter 1: Three Worlds Meet

A new type of ship, called the caravel allowed sailing to become faster and more economical. Other tools like the compass and astrolabe allowed explorers to travel farther than ever before.

Spain was looking to increase its wealth and merchant navy by sponsoring an expedition to the Orient. Christopher Columbus believed that Asia could be reached by a much shorter travel route by sailing west instead of south. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain decided to finance Columbus on a voyage.

In October of 1492 Columbus and his crew finally caught sight of land. They quickly landed and met the natives of the island, which Columbus named Taino. Columbus also claimed the island for Spain and named it San Salvador, which means “Holy Savior.” Columbus believed that he had landed on the islands in Asia called the Indies. He then called the Taino, los Indios.

The era of conquest was now on….. As the Europeans interacted with the native groups, it soon became apparent that they could not resist the European diseases, especially small pox. Thousands of natives died to various diseases brought by the Europeans.

At first the Spanish tried to use the natives as slave labor, but soon realized that they could not be used for many reasons: 1. They knew the area and could escape easily. 2. The natives were dying off too quickly to be of use. 3. Africans apparently were resistant to European diseases, did not know the area, and seemed to be tougher workers.

In 1493 a treaty was negotiated between Spain and Portugal over their dispute for the “new world.” The Treaty of Tordesillas divided the western hemisphere between the two countries.

Because Columbus had reached the new world, a new trade route between the western and eastern hemispheres began. It was called the Columbian Exchange.

New World crops maize (corn) white potatoes sweet potatoes manioc peanuts tomatoes squash pumpkins pineapples papaya avocados Old World crops rice wheat barley oats rye turnips onions cabbage lettuce peaches pears sugar New World domesticated animals dogs llamas guinea pigs fowl (a few species) Old World domesticated animals dogs pigs cattle goats sheep barnyard fowl horses donkeys