Chapter 15 Beginnings of Our Global Age: Europe and the Americas

Section 1: Conquest in the Americas Focus Question: How did a small number of Spanish conquistadors conquer huge Native American empires?

First Encounters Spanish conquistadors Spanish fighters who vanquished the Americas Settled in Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Puerto Rico Forced Native Americans to work and convert to Christianity Settlers had better weapons Native Americans had no immunity to disease

Explorer who fought and subdued the Aztecs HERNÁN CORTÉS Cuban landowner 1519 – Arrived in Mexico Explorer who fought and subdued the Aztecs Helped conquer the Aztecs by forming alliances

Moctezuma Aztec emperor Feared Cortes and the Spanish Imprisoned for riches, signed over land to Spanish Many Spanish, Aztecs and Native Americans fought for the same land END RESULTS: Moctezuma killed Tenochtitlan destroyed Smallpox spread among Aztecs

Pizarro Takes Peru Inca rumored to have had greater wealth than the Aztec Pizarro arrives in 1532 Atahualpa Leader of the Inca Just won the throne through a bloody civil war against his brother Refuses to be a vassal or convert to Christianity Pizarro-seeks other native support Captures Atahualpa and demands huge ransom Receives ransom and kills him anyway The Spanish continue to spread taking over most of South America

Effects of Spanish Conquistadors Spain became largest & wealthiest empire Hundreds of thousands of Native Americans died Disrupted entire way of life: religion, power, etc. Many Indians fought Spanish rule Native American culture influenced Latin American culture Changed global encounters – world connected by sea routes – people, goods and ideas

Section 2: Spanish and Portuguese Colonies in the Americas Focus Question: How did Spain and Portugal build colonies in the Americas?

Ruling Spanish Empire Divided into provinces ruled by viceroys, representatives who ruled in the name of the Spanish monarchs Spread Christianity Controlled trade to make the most money Encomienda- forcing Native Americans to work under harsh conditions Bartolome de Las Casas spoke out against system Peons – worked to pay off debt Used slave labor from Africa

Colonial Society and Culture Cultural blending – European, African, Indian Layered society – distinct social classes Peninsulares – born in Spain Creoles – American-born descendants of Spanish Mestizos – Native-American and European Mulattoes – African and European Africans Lively towns and cities Valued education and Christianity

Portuguese in Brazil Brazil did not offer immediate wealth Natives –Tupian Indians- suffered from disease Portuguese named colony after Brazilwood Culture emerged from Indians, Africans, Europeans Pirates preyed on treasure from Americas Privateers- pirates who operated with the approval of European governments

Section 3: Struggle for North America Focus Question: How did European struggles for power shape the North American continent?

New France Provided revenues for parent country Jacques Cartier- explorer who claimed much of Canada for France Furs, trapping, and fishing popular France’s empire reached from Quebec to Great Lakes to MS River Population grows slowly, mainly due to harsh weather conditions

The 13 English Colonies 1607 – first permanent settlement at Jamestown Pilgrims at Plymouth colony rejected Church of England Colonies of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were set up mainly as havens for persecuted protestants Mayflower Compact (agreement) – rules to govern the Plymouth colony

Why does everyone want colonies????

Struggle for Power Spain, France, England and Netherlands all had colonies in North America French and Indian War fought between British and French George Washington was a leader Turned into Seven Years’ War and spread into Europe in 1756 – then to India and Africa Treaty of Paris (1763) ended war – British prevailed, gained control of the Caribbean and most of North America.

Section 4: Atlantic Slave Trade Focus Question: How did the Atlantic slave trade shape the lives and economies of Africans and Europeans?

Triangle Trade Three-legged international trade system First leg – European goods to Africa (guns, cloth, cash) Second leg (Middle Passage) – slaves transported to Americas Third leg – colonial goods (sugar, molasses, cotton, furs, salt fish) traded for European commodities

Middle Passage Terrible treatment of slaves Men, women and children chained to each other Many died from starvation, disease, suicide, pirates or trying to escape The slave ships were referred to as “Floating coffins”- due to the amount of death that occurred during the voyage

Impact of Slave Trade Brought wealth to merchants and traders Provided labor that made colonies grow African states and societies torn apart Estimated 11 million enslaved sent to Americas Another 2 million died Entire cities/villages gone from Africa

Section 5: Effects of Global Contact Focus Question: How did voyages of European explorers lead to new economic systems in Europe and its colonies?

Columbian Exchange Vast global exchange started with Columbus New foods and animals Population exploded Partly because of new foods and resources Migration expanded Some populations suffered disease

Columbian Exchange

Commercial Revolution Inflation: increase in price linked to sharp increase in amount of money available Price Revolution – period in Europe of inflation Capitalism: economic system in which most businesses are owned privately Entrepreneurs: People who took financial risk to make profits Mercantilism: wealth of nation in gold and silver Increasing national wealth Tariffs: taxes on imported goods