Unit 1 Exploration/Colonization EQ: What motivated European exploration and Colonization in the 15th and 16th Centuries?

Motivation

Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks

Expansion of the Ottoman Empire throughout the middle east/silk road

Price of goods on silk road increase as the distance grows

Reconquista (Reconquest) For 800 years the Portuguese and Spanish fought to “reconquer” the Iberian (Spain/Portugal) peninsula In 1492 Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain emerge victorious, expelling Muslim moors from Iberia

Ottoman control and restriction of the silk road Dilemma: A difficult situation or problem Ottoman control and restriction of the silk road Lack of wealth to be able to afford goods transported along the silk road How will the Europeans respond to these problems?

II. Portuguese Exploration While England and France are at war with each other and Spain is fighting Muslims, Portugal takes advantage of the opportunity to explore. In 1419 Prince Henry of Portugal (Henry the Navigator) starts a research center for cartographers, sailors, and shipbuilders. 1420 – Portugal maps the African coastline. Colonizes the Azores and Cape Verde Islands. Uses islands to grow sugarcane. Begin enslaving Africans to work sugarcane fields.

II. Portuguese Exploration

II. Portuguese Exploration New/Improved technology used for navigation and exploration Astrolabe Compass Caravel Cartography (Map Making)

II. Portuguese Exploration Three G’s become an easy way of defining ongoing motivations for exploration God: Spread of religion – especially after Reconquista Gold: Needed for strengthening kingdoms and purchasing trade goods Glory: Fame for kingdoms and individuals who discover/conquer new territories

III. Spanish Exploration King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela finance Christopher Columbus (Italian) expedition Columbus believes (falsely) that the world is smaller and there is a direct route west to the Indies Columbus lands in the Caribbean and completes 5 trips mapping the area.

IV. Spanish Conquest Cortes launches an expedition to Mexico from Cuba with a small force of 500 soldiers Cortes allies with tribes resentful of Aztec rule With their assistance he marches on Tenochtitlan the Aztec Capital (Mexico City) Cortes captures the Emperor Montezuma and puts down an Aztec rebellion Smallpox wipes out a significant part of the population making the future conquest of Mexico easier

IV. Spanish Conquest Pizzaro invades the Inca empire in South America with a small force of 168 soldiers Inca have 30,000 Pizzaro tricks Emperor Atahualpa into meeting unarmed and captures him The Inca provide a room full of gold and silver as ransom payment Pizzaro executes Atahualpa for “plotting” a rebellion and installs a new emperor loyal to him Pizzaro becomes Governor of Peru

V. New Spain Treaty of Tordesillas updates the previous line of demarcation between Portuguese and Spanish claims in the new world. Spanish rule on top of existing arrangements by the Aztec and Inca empires. Primarily settler and plantation colonies Instituted the encomienda system Gave landowners the right to use Native labor Eventually led to broad enslavement

VI. New France + colonies French Crown and trading companies managed the colonies Colonies in North America and South primarily trading posts Fur Colonies in the Caribbean primarily plantations Sugarcane

VII. New Netherlands + Colonies Confederation of Dutch republics Colonies in North America (New York + New Jersey) and Asia Trading posts for fur and spice trade

VIII. English Colonies Constitutional Monarchy Parliament and King ruled Colonial assemblies helped run colonies Colonies in North America, Caribbean, and South Asia English colonies mixed settler, plantation, and trading post systems. Major production of sugarcane, tobacco, and rice

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