European Explorations The Age of Early European Explorations & Conquests
New Monarchies: What are they? Increasingly centralized governments of nation-states Under Royal Control Administration was in the king, not feudal courts (justice for example) Taxes were for the king Occurred right as the reformation and exploration were happening.
Why did the New Monarchies occur? Decline of the Feudal System a weakened Nobility led to an increase in royal power Crusades were a financial woe Other conflicts arose New methods of warfare (gunpowder, mercenary armies) reduced royal dependence upon the nobles Black Death reduced European population so Nobles were not in a place to demand labour (supply and demand) Decreased influence of the Church Church slowly loses support Great Schism Catholic Church conceded power to monarchs in exchange for support
Why did the New Monarchies occur? Rise of the Capitalist Class the growth of a middle class led to a reduced power in nobility business people wanted a strong government territorial expansion would lead to new money Growth of nationalism
Why Explore? How would Humanism encourage countries to explore? Why would stronger centralized kingdoms give rise to exploration? Why would Europeans not use overland trade routes? How would the Reformation encourage overseas exploration? Other reasons?
Motives for European Exploration God, Glory & Gold! Crusades raised interest in Asia. Renaissance curiosity about other lands and peoples. Reformation refugees & missionaries. Monarchs seeking new sources of revenue. (competition between them) Technological advances. Fame and fortune. (The rise of banks and commercial ventures)
New Maritime Technologies Better Maps Astrolabe Mariner’s Compass Sextant
New Weapons Technology
What problems might arise from exploring new territory with these motives? (Think short term & long term) God, Glory & Gold! Crusades raised interest in Asia. Renaissance curiosity about other lands and peoples. Reformation refugees & missionaries. Monarchs seeking new sources of revenue. (competition between them) Fame and fortune. (The rise of banks and commercial ventures)
Prince Henry, the Navigator School for Navigation, 1419
Portuguese Maritime Empire Prince Henry explored the west coast of Africa in search of gold.
Christopher Columbus[1451-1506]
Columbus’ Significance Columbus ushered in a new era of European exploration and domination in the world!
Columbus’ Four Voyages
Other Voyages of Exploration
Atlantic Explorations Looking for “El Dorado”
Old Imperialism vs. New Imperialism Old: Characterized by establishing posts and forts on coastal regions but not penetrating inland to conquer entire regions or subjugate their populations. New: outright conquering entire regions and subjugating their populations.
The First Spanish Conquests: The Aztecs vs. Fernando Cortez Montezuma II
Mexico Surrenders to Cortez
Why would the 'Columbian Exchange' be considered the tsunami of unintentional "bio-terrorism"??
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
Cycle of Conquest & Colonization Official European Colony! Explorers Conquistadores Official European Colony! Missionaries Permanent Settlers
Treasures from the Americas!
Triangular Trade
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
Slave Ship “Middle Passage”
“Coffin” Position Below Deck
African Captives Thrown Overboard Sharks followed the slave ships!
European Empires in the Americas
New Colonial Rivals
Your Task for Today Make a chart or a Venn Diagram. One side will be positives of exploration, one side will be negatives of exploration. Share in a small group and expand your own charts.
Your Task for Today In many ways the story of Cortez represents a challenge in doing history: How do we accurately and fairly represent history? With events like Cortez, it is a challenging task to portray Cortez in a neutral and unbiased way. Different people see him as both a Hero and a Villain? Is it up to us to decide? Is it even possible to write a neutral history?
Your Writing Tasks Using your chart decide whether European exploration was good or bad. Answer with a ½ page to page response. Take a side! Do you see debates in our society today over the spread of ideas or products? Where today is the same action seen as “good” and “bad” at the same time? What can we learn from the challenges in doing history? (Both for the history and our world today)
Assessment: Examples Organization Depth of thinking In the end you will hand in your Chart and answers to all three questions.