Voyages of Discovery and the European Encounter with the New World Key Questions: Which European countries explored and colonized? What were their reasons? Justifications? How was this linked to other aspects of the Renaissance? How did the colonizers regard the New World inhabitants? What was the impact on the colonizers and the colonized? (Short and long-term consequences?) Wealth Trade Routes Adventure Spread Christianity Prestige
SPANISH EXPLORATION & CONQUEST OF THE NEW WORLD
1540s – California claimed by Spain; Coronado explored New Columbus claimed Santo Domingo and other Caribbean islands for Spain between 1492 and 1504 Vespucci sailed for Spain in 1499 (his former patron was Francesco de Medici) Pizarro conquered Peru 1531-41 (later murdered by his comrades)¨ Ponce de Leon explored Florida coast in 1513; was governor of Puerto Rico Vasco de Balboa crossed Panama isthmus and saw Pacific Ocean in 1513 Hernando Cortes conquered Mexico 1519-21 Jacques Cartier claimed St Lawrence Seaway and Quebec for France in 1534 1540s – California claimed by Spain; Coronado explored New Mexico and Texas in 1540 1607 – Virginia colony 1620 – Plymouth colony (Puritans) Dutch establish colonies – New Amsterdam (New York) in 1620s
Pizarro Hernando Cortes Amerigo da Vespucci Ponce de Leon Balboa Vasco da Gama
Pedro Alvares Cabral Brazil 1500 Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 Divided the New World between Spain & Portugal
COLUMBUS’ first encounter with Indians The myth of the ‘noble savage’
or, monstrous savage?
Were the Aztec bloodthirsty?
The Spanish Conquest of Mexico Requerimiento (1510) BERNAL DÍAZ The True History of the Conquest of New Spain FRAY BERNARDINO DE SAHAGÚN the Florentine Codex (1585)
A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies1552 BARTOLOME DE LAS CASAS – 16th CENTURY DOMINICAN FRIAR A CRITIC OF SLAVERY & CRUEL TREATMENT OF NATIVE AMERICANS A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies1552
Aztec Account http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/contact/text7/mexica_tlaxcala.pdf Las Casas http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/amerbegin/contact/text7/casas_destruction.pdf