European Exploration and Africa

Pre-European encounters Ghana Controlled the Trans-Saharan trade because of its location and access to resources Gold, salt, slaves, and ivory were most popular trade item Mali Similar to European nations because one king ruled collection of provinces

1453- Constantinople Falls In 1453 Constantinople controlled by Europeans falls to the Ottoman Turks. Cuts of Trade routes to Asia European nations look for other ways to goods God, Glory, and Gold

Portuguese success Portuguese sail around Africa -Vasco Da Gama- first sailor to reach India, brings back spices 1492 Spain attempts to reach India by sailing West. -Christopher Columbus lands in Cuba, finds new land *named East Indies since Columbus believed he had landed in India

Treaty of Tordesillas Treaty that sets an imaginary line between Territories and routes claimed by Spain and Portuguese (1494) Amerigo Vespucci- Discovers that that the new land is actually a continent

Spanish Conquest of America Conquistadors- Spanish Conquers Hernan Cortez- Conquers to Aztecs in 1519 -Easily defeats Aztecs with guns, horses, smallpox and steal Francisco Pizarro- conquers the Inca Empire and gains their gold

Spanish and Native Americans Encomienda- Granted by the Queen of Spain, stated Natives can be used as slave labor Columbian Exchange- exchange of goods, plants, and animals from Europe to the Americas Triangle Trade- trade between Europe, Africa, and America

Slave Trade begins 80-90% of the Native Americans die of disease Spanish look elsewhere for free labor Slave Trade- Spanish begin importing Africans from West Africa Middle Passage-route from Africa to America