THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE APUSH Unit 1 - Mod 3

Why did Europeans Travel? They wanted to trade with the East, but it was controlled by Italy. So Spain and Portugal tried other ways to get there.

How could Europeans Travel? Mariner’s Astrolabe Renaissance = Printing Press = Information Caravel Mariner’s Compass Competition between newly formed Spain and Portugal for exploration cred

Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 “Split control” of the world between Spain and Portugal. Spain gets most of the New World (except Brazil) Portugal gets Africa Spain Portugal

Cortes and the Aztecs Cortes befriended the Tlaxcala (enemy of the Aztecs) Aztec leader, Montezuma, was killed Mexica were crushed in 1522

Pizarro and the Incas Incan Road System Atahualpa Pizarro

Results of Conquistadors for Spain, Europe, the World…. Early conquistadors sent vast stores of silver and gold back to Spain which flooded the European money supply, led to inflation, and probably led to the rise of capitalism (since there was a much larger and accessible money supply)

“What is Capitalism,” you ask? Capitalism is an ECONOMIC SYSTEM While it allows for the “free market” and a competition between privately held businesses at this time it is important because: It requires an investment of CAPITAL (money) into businesses to get them started. Europe never had this much capital before Would be seen in the JOINT STOCK COMPANIES

How were the Europeans Able to Dominate so Quickly? Horses Steel Guns Germs Document on Indian population charts will help you see the rate of decline among the native populations