1. European Exploration

2. Unit Objectives To learn the causes of European exploration
To learn the impact of European exploration on the Native Americans and the Europeans
To identify European explorers and their impact
To determine if Columbus was a hero or a villian
To learn why the Native Americans were conquered by the Europeans
To identify where Native American empires existed

3. Imperialism/Colonialism
A strong country or empire taking over a weaker country or region for its own benefit—usually establishing colonies
Mercantilism:
A country’s power depends on its wealth (gold
and land) and its ability to balance its trade
(imports vs exports)

4. Reasons for Imperialism
God:
TO SPREAD RELIGION AND CONVERT
THE NATIVES—SAW IT AS THEIR DUTY
(SAVING THE GODLESS NATIVES)
2. Glory:
POWER THAT CAME WITH DOMINATING SO
MUCH LAND—LAND BECAME MEASURING
STICK FOR HOW POWERFUL AN EMPIRE WAS

5. 3. Gold: ECONOMIC POWER 4. Other: LAND, NATURAL RESOURCES, MARKET FOR GOODS, INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, STRATEGIC LOCATIONS FOR NAVAL BASES, “SOCIAL DARWINISM” (SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST IN SOCIETY—FEELING OF SUPERIORITY)

6. Marco Polo got Europe interested in Asia with his stories about the treasures and spices he found there
Portugal was the first nation to begin exploring the Atlantic in an effort to find a sea route to Asia (land routes had gotten too dangerous and costly) -Prince Henry the Navigator sponsored many voyages and was credited with building an empire -Bartholomeu Dias discovered a sea route to Asia around Africa (led to exploration of Africa) -Vasco de Gama tried to open trade with India; Not successful but treated like a hero anyway -Magellan was the first to circle the globe

7. Voyages of Bartolomeu Dias

8. Spain
Columbus was an Italian who had to shop around for someone to fund his voyages; He believed the world was round and he could find a shorter route to Asia by sailing across the Atlantic—Most thought he was crazy and were unwilling to fund his voyages -Ferdinand & Isabella: RULERS OF SPAIN WHO FUNDED HIS VOYAGES

9. Ferdinand and Isabella

10. What was Columbus’ main goal:

11. FIND A NEW SEA ROUTE TO ASIA
What did he actually do? Did he “discover America”?

12. HE FOUND, NOT DISCOVERED, THE NEW WORLD AND OPENED IT TO EUROPEAN EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION
-Amerigo Vespucci:
Later figured out the Americas were new
continents and not Asia

13. Columbus

14. Spanish Conquistadors
They were Spanish explorers who conquered native groups they encountered
Main Goal:
FIND GOLD
(SECONDARY GOAL: SPREAD CHRISTIANITY)

15. Main Methods:
KILL AND CONQUER, PLUNDER
Hernando Cortes:
CONQUERED AZTECS
Francisco Pizarro:
CONQUERED INCA

16. Cortes and Pizarro

17. Overall Impact of Conquistadors
THEY WIPED OUT MANY NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES
THEY BROUGHT SPANISH CULTURE AND CHRISTIANITY TO NEW WORLD

18. Social Pyramid
Peninsulares: Pure-blood Spanish and Portuguese born in Europe and living in the New World—they were at the top of the social pyramid
Creoles: Descendants of Europeans born in the New World—considered second-class by Peninsulares
Mestizo Culture: Combination of Spanish and Native American cultures; Mulatto: Combination of Spanish and African cultures—Both considered to be socially inferior
Africans and conquered Native Americans were at the very bottom

19. France Came to the new World for: FUR
New France: French colonial empire in eastern Canada discovered and settled by Jacques Cartier and Samuel Champlain

20. Great Britain
Great Britain was the last of the main powers to show an interest in the New World—Why?
PROTESTANT QUEEN ELIZABETH I WANTED TO COMPETE WITH CATHOLIC SPAIN
Main goal:
ESTABLISH COLONIES

21. Sir Francis Drake was
a British pirate who
attacked Spanish ships
Sir Walter Raleigh
established the first
attempt at a British
colony in the New World
(Roanoke)

22. Roanoke Colony

23. Main difference between how the British and Spaniards treated the Native Americans:
SPANISH KILLED OR CONQUERED, BRITISH
IGNORED THEM (WORKED TO CONQUER THE
LAND, NOT THE NATIVE AMERICANS)

24. The British Navy defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588—The Spanish had dominated the seas with the Armada and the British victory gave them control of the Atlantic and greatly increased British colonization of America