The Age of Exploration in the Americas

New Maritime Technologies Better Maps [Portulan] Hartman Astrolabe (1532) Mariner’s Compass Sextant

New Weapons Technology

Christofo Colon [1451-1506]

Other Voyages of Exploration

Atlantic Explorations Looking for “El Dorado”

Spanish Conquistadors Soldier-explorers who settled in the Americas in hopes of finding treasure Inspired by Columbus to seek fortune in the New World Many came from the part of Spain called Extremadura. poor soil, icy winters, & blistering hot summers held little chance for wealth Hernan Cortes was born in this province

The First Spanish Conquests: The Aztecs vs. Fernando Cortez Montezuma II

Hernan Cortes Spanish conquistador who reached Mexico in 1519 in search of treasure arrived in Mexico with 550 soldiers, 16 horses, 14 canons, & a few dogs group was met by Aztec emperor, Montezuma II

Cortes Defeats the Aztec Cortes traveled 400 miles to reach Tenochitlan. Montezuma did not attack right away because he first thought Cortes was Quetzalcoatl. The Spanish were able to take control of the city & took Montezuma hostage. Cortes ordered the Aztec to stop sacrificing people.

Cortes Defeats Aztec Cortes’ orders angered Aztec and he planned a rebellion. Fighting broke out & Montezuma was killed. The Spanish were outnumbered, so they fled the city. Before they could prepare a 2nd attack, smallpox broke out in Tenochitlan & greatly weakened the large Aztec empire. 1521--Spanish destroyed the Aztec capital.

The Death of Montezuma II

Mexico Surrenders to Cortez

The First Spanish Conquests: The Incas vs. Francisco Pizarro Atahualpa

Francisco Pizarro Pizarro was also from the Extremadura. He was not of noble birth; could not even write his name. At age 16, Pizarro fled a job herding pigs in Italy. 1502--He arrived in the Americas and became very wealthy by exploring Panama. heard a rumor that there was a great empire filled with gold in the mountains of South America

The Inca 1530s--Inca thought they ruled most of the world; two threats from the north proved they did not. 1.They couldn’t stop the spread of smallpox. 2. They couldn’t scare away Pizarro.

Pizarro Defeats the Inca Spanish messengers invited Atahualpa to a meeting. He agreed & left most of his army behind--brought only 5,000 bodyguards. Pizarro’s 160 soldiers attacked the Inca & kidnapped Atahualpa. Pizarro offered to free Atahualpa if he filled one room with gold & one with silver. Atahualpa kept his end of the bargain, but Pizarro killed him in 1533.

Cycle of Conquest & Colonization Official European Colony! Explorers Conquistadores Official European Colony! Missionaries Permanent Settlers

The “Columbian Exchange” Squash Avocado Peppers Sweet Potatoes Turkey Pumpkin Tobacco Quinine Cocoa Pineapple Cassava POTATO Peanut TOMATO Vanilla MAIZE Syphilis Trinkets Liquor GUNS Olive COFFEE BEAN Banana Rice Onion Turnip Honeybee Barley Grape Peach SUGAR CANE Oats Citrus Fruits Pear Wheat HORSE Cattle Sheep Pigs Smallpox Flu Typhus Measles Malaria Diptheria Whooping Cough

Treasures from the Americas!

The Slave Trade Existed in Africa before the coming of the Europeans. Portuguese replaced European slaves with Africans. Sugar cane & sugar plantations. First boatload of African slaves brought by the Spanish in 1518. 275,000 enslaved Africans exported to other countries. Between 16c & 19c, about 10 million Africans shipped to the Americas.

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

Slaves Working in a Brazilian Sugar Mill

Slave Ship “Middle Passage”

“Coffin” Position Below Deck

African Captives Thrown Overboard Sharks followed the slave ships!

European Empires in the Americas

The Colonial Class System Peninsulares Creoles Mestizos Mulattos Native Indians Black Slaves

The Influence of the Colonial Catholic Church Guadalajara Cathedral Our Lady of Guadalupe Guadalajara Cathedral Spanish Mission

The Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494 & The Pope’s Line of Demarcation

New Colonial Rivals

Impact of European Expansion Native populations ravaged by disease. Influx of gold, and especially silver, into Europe created an inflationary economic climate. [“Price Revolution”] New products introduced across the continents [“Columbian Exchange”]. Deepened colonial rivalries.

5. New Patterns of World Trade