The Discovery of the Americas

Explorers and the Age of Exploration The Age of Exploration occurred from the early 15th to the early 17th Century European ships traveled around the world to search for new trading routes and partners to feed burgeoning capitalism in Europe The Age of Exploration was rooted in new technologies and ideas growing out of the Renaissance including advances in cartography, navigation, firepower and shipbuilding. Much of new exploration was rooted in the desire to find a route to Asia through the west of Europe.

Christopher Columbus In 1492, Christopher Columbus began his exploration of the Americas – he became famous when he discovered a new continent and he ignited a competition among many of the other European nations to find new lands Columbus discovered what is now known as the San Salvador in the Bahamas

The Columbian Exchange The Columbian Exchange refers to the movement of peoples, cultures, technologies, plants, animals, diseases and other things between Europe and North America in the wake of Columbus’s voyages This exchange fundamentally changed human life and the environment in both worlds

The Columbian Exchange

Examples of the Exchange Potatoes, grown by the Incas, were brought back and introduced to Spain in the early 1500s Spain introduced the horse to Spain – which assisted the natives in becoming more efficient in the hunt Europeans traded alcohol with the natives Europeans also introduced small pox and tuberculosis

Spain and Portugal Spain and Portugal were the major players early on in the search for new lands This drive for new lands put the two countries in direct competition which caused Pope Alexander VI to convince the two countries to divide any new overseas trading interests between them

The Treaty of Tordesillas In 1494, “for the sake of peace and concord” Spain and Portugal resolved their differences in the Treaty of Tordesillas This Treaty established a line at 48 degrees west longitude and extended it around the earth Any lands to the west of this line belonged to Spain

America gets a name! In 1499, a Portuguese expedition captained by an Italian-born navigator named Amerigo Vespucci sailed down the coast of South America Vespucci believed that this land was a vast new continent and he erroneously received credit for discovering what German mapmakers named “America”

What? Another Ocean? On expeditions to Panama, Vasco, Nunez de Balboa learned from the native peoples of a huge body of water called the “great waters” He led an expedition with the assistance of the native peoples and he was the first European to set his sights on this great new body of water To Balboa, the water appeared calm and peaceful so he gave it the name ‘Pacifica’ (latin) which later became the Pacific Ocean

England vs. Spain! By the 1570s, Queen Elizabeth I was concerned with Spain’s increasingly global influence Fearful of an open confrontation with Spain she gave her unofficial approval to piracy against Spanish ships and settlements Men such as Sir Francis Drake cruised the shores of Spanish America stealing from ships, settlements and people – These men became know as Privateers

Watch Out! Here Comes the Armada! Eventually Spain, seeking revenge against England for attacks on her colonies dispatched her huge fleet of ships known as the Spanish Armada against England’s fleet King Philip II felt he had to destroy the English fleet to solve the problem

Defeat of the Armada! Despite being greatly outnumbered, the English fleet was faster and pounded the huge Galleons with artillery before they could get close enough to board the smaller vessels Having been badly damaged in the battle the fleet was forced up through the English Channel into the North Sea where a fierce storm further crippled the fleet In a single battle, Spain lost almost all of her naval forces and the English way to the Americas was clear

Mercantilism Beginning in the 1600s, many of the European nations, including England started to follow a theory of national economic policy called ‘mercantilism’ This theory believed that a state’s power depended on its wealth For this reason, colonies became increasingly important to the European Powers Colonies provided raw materials and provided markets for manufactured goods from the parents country

French Presence In America 1608 Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City 1682 Robert de La Salle followed Mississippi River to Gulf Of Mexico and claimed the land for France calling it Louisiana French gov’t disinterested in N. American colonies preferring Caribbean sugar col.

The Dutch In America 1609 Henry Hudson sailed for the Dutch and set up a trading post on Manhattan Island calling it New Amsterdam Profitable trade in furs took place, but poor leadership and weak gov’t lead to England taking over in 1664