1. 1a. Why did Europeans begin to search for new trade routes to Asia?
Demand for spices:
Spices are very valuable, preserve food and add flavor
Found in Moluccas Islands (aka: spice islands)
Obstacles/barriers to spice trade:
Italians and Muslims control the spice trade through a complex overland route = very expensive
*Europeans search for new trade routes to spices islands

2. 1b. What innovations allowed them to explore these possibilities?
astrolabe:
Old GPS system – can tell you your position by measure angles
magnetic compass:
Uses an iron needle to determine direction (north pole)
caravel:
Fast ship that could easily maneuver around the coast (triangle sail)
cartography:
Map making, more accurate map with better projection = better navigation

3. 2a. How did Europeans establish and control colonies? (see chart)
How did the Portuguese establish their trading empire?
Small trading posts around the edge of Africa, expand colonies in America
How did Spain organize its colonial governments and society?
Provinces, governed by Viceroys. Established a new social order with Spanish decedents at the top and Natives at the bottom
How did France run its territories in the New World?
Establishment of small colonies in North America with support of Native Americans (economy based on fur/ fishing. Missionary efforts
In what ways were the English colonies in North America unique?
Founded by companies and by religious settlers (13 colonies)
Northern colonies = fast growing population, fish, timber whaling, merchant trade grows
South/ middle colonies = plantation that grow cash crops

4. 2b. How did they compete over trade?
Who were privateers?
Legal pirates (attacked and captured enemy ships for profit)
What was the purpose of mercantilism?
policy in which a country tried to export more than it imported in an effort to make a large profit
Dutch East Indies Company:
trading company established in the Netherlands that had full control over their colonies. (make a large profit off of the spice trade)
French and Indian War:
War between Britain and France in the Americas for the control of North America. --- Britain wins and gets control of modern day Canada

5. 3a. Who were the conquistadors?
Definition:
Spanish explorers who conquered land for Spain and help found massive empires for Spain. Motivated by God, Glory and especially GOLD
Key examples:
Cortes – conquered the Aztec
Pizzaro – conquered the Incas

6. 3b. What motives brought them to the Americas? The 3 Gs
Precious metals: (GOLD)
Gold and silver – the Spanish established many mines that the natives were forced to work in. The Spanish mined millions (billions today) worth of gold out of their colonies, making them a very wealthy nation
Individual and national glory: (GLORY)
New land and more power for their countries
Religious zeal: (GOD)
Many wanted to spread their own branch of Christianity (Missionaries) or escape religious persecution

7. 3c. What effect did their actions have on Europe and the Americas?
Columbian Exchange and its effects:
An exchange of ideas, people and goods between Europe and the Americas.
Positive – learn new trades and increase food productivity
Negative – diseases to the America and death of native
Encomienda system:
Spanish settlers enslave natives on large plantations. Benefited the Europeans but many native die on the plantations.
*De Las Casas speaks out about the horrors of this system
Native American civilization and population:
Many natives die from Encomiendas, disease and warfare

8. 4. Explain the creation of the Atlantic triangular trade system.
Origins of slave trade in Africa:
Europeans bring Africans to the Americas to replace natives as labors on plantations
Demand for labor in the New World
Death of native and refusal to work on plantations led to labor shortage
First leg of the trade system
European finished goods (such as guns) to Africa to trade for slaves
The Middle Passage:
Second leg of the trade systems in which slaves were brought to the Americas and trades for raw materials.
Final leg of the Atlantic trade:
Raw materials were brought to Europe in exchange for finished products