Exploration

Theme Europe's growing demand for Eastern luxuries prompted exploration in the hopes of reducing the expense of those goods with new trade routes. Exploration occurred incrementally, beginning with the Portuguese moving around the coast of Africa and establishing trading posts. Awareness of the New World and its wealth pushed exploration across the Atlantic. Spanish exploration continued in the same fashion, first in the Caribbean islands then expanding into South and North America. Europe's growing demand for Eastern luxuries prompted exploration in the hopes of reducing the expense of those goods with new trade routes. Exploration occurred incrementally, beginning with the Portuguese moving around the coast of Africa and establishing trading posts. Awareness of the New World and its wealth pushed exploration across the Atlantic. Spanish exploration continued in the same fashion, first in the Caribbean islands then expanding into South and North America.

North America Population 1-10 million people Population 1-10 million people Roles: Men—hunting; women—crops Roles: Men—hunting; women—crops Some tribes nomadic Some tribes nomadic Some complex societies Some complex societies Pueblos--multistoried buildings/irrigationPueblos--multistoried buildings/irrigation Mound builders—east of MississippiMound builders—east of Mississippi Cahokia—settlement of 30,000Cahokia—settlement of 30,000 League of Iroquois—political confederacyLeague of Iroquois—political confederacy

North American Exploration

Central/South America Between a.d.—Mayans in Central America Between a.d.—Mayans in Central America Aztecs in Mexico (1300s-1521) Aztecs in Mexico (1300s-1521) Incas in Peru (1200s-1533) Incas in Peru (1200s-1533) All highly organized societies with extensive trade organizations and scientific achievements All highly organized societies with extensive trade organizations and scientific achievements

Native Americans

European History Renaissance (rebirth of learning, arts, sciences, etc) Renaissance (rebirth of learning, arts, sciences, etc) Protestant Reformation Protestant Reformation Edit of 1492 and Reconquista Edit of 1492 and Reconquista

Protestant Reformation

European Trade Grew out of fierce competition among Europeans to increase trade with Africa, India, and China Grew out of fierce competition among Europeans to increase trade with Africa, India, and China Land route to Asia became blocked in 1453 by Turks’ control of Constantinople Land route to Asia became blocked in 1453 by Turks’ control of Constantinople Prince Henry the Navigator (Portugal) aided in improving ship building and navigation Prince Henry the Navigator (Portugal) aided in improving ship building and navigation

Early Exploration 1492—Christopher Columbus sailed west (died in 1506 thinking he had found Asia) 1492—Christopher Columbus sailed west (died in 1506 thinking he had found Asia) 1498—Vasco da Gama sailed around Cape of Good Hope in Africa to reach India 1498—Vasco da Gama sailed around Cape of Good Hope in Africa to reach India

Columbus’ Legacy Skillful navigator Skillful navigator Adventuresome Adventuresome Permanent interaction between Europeans and Native Americans Permanent interaction between Europeans and Native Americans

Columbian Exchange

Triangular Trade

Spain & Portugal 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas Portugal--Brazil & AfricaPortugal--Brazil & Africa Spain--AmericasSpain--Americas

Claims Spanish Supremacy—gold, silver, land (encomienda), labor Spanish Supremacy—gold, silver, land (encomienda), labor English Claims-North America—primarily land and attacking the Spanish, Newfoundland, Roanoke Island English Claims-North America—primarily land and attacking the Spanish, Newfoundland, Roanoke Island French Claims—”New York”, St. Lawrence River, need to Christianize “New World”, Quebec, Mississippi River, Louisiana French Claims—”New York”, St. Lawrence River, need to Christianize “New World”, Quebec, Mississippi River, Louisiana Dutch Claims—seeking northwest passage, Hudson River, New Amsterdam, Dutch West India Co. Dutch Claims—seeking northwest passage, Hudson River, New Amsterdam, Dutch West India Co.

Colonization of North America

Timeline of Conquistadors rs/home.htm rs/home.htm rs/home.htm rs/home.htm

Questions for Discussion What role did disease and forced labor (including slavery) play in the early settlement of America? Is the view of the Spanish and Portuguese as especially harsh conquerors and exploiters valid—or is this image just another version of the English “black legend” concerning the Spanish role in the Americas? What role did disease and forced labor (including slavery) play in the early settlement of America? Is the view of the Spanish and Portuguese as especially harsh conquerors and exploiters valid—or is this image just another version of the English “black legend” concerning the Spanish role in the Americas? Are the differences between Latin America and North America due primarily to the differences between the respective Indian societies that existed in the two places, or to the disparity between Spanish and English culture? What would have happened if the English had conquered densely settled Mexico and Peru, and the Spanish had settled more thinly populated North America? Are the differences between Latin America and North America due primarily to the differences between the respective Indian societies that existed in the two places, or to the disparity between Spanish and English culture? What would have happened if the English had conquered densely settled Mexico and Peru, and the Spanish had settled more thinly populated North America? Why was the Old World able to dominate the New World? What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Old World? What were the strengths and weaknesses of the New World? Why was the Old World able to dominate the New World? What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Old World? What were the strengths and weaknesses of the New World?