Unit 3 Columbus Discovers the Americas Page 90-93

A Water Route to Asia European  civilizations began trading with each other for goods that they didn’t have  As the centuries went by, Europe expanded its trade routes to other parts of the world. Asia’s spices, fur, and silk were highly desired by Europeans For centuries the only route to trade was over land or sailing around Africa which took several weeks European countries were looking for a faster and cheaper ocean route to get the goods

Trade Routes to Asia

Columbus’ Plan Columbus believed that sailing across the Atlantic would be much faster and convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to give him 3 ships for the journey

Columbus’ Plan After being rejected by Portugal Columbus convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to finance his voyage west On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail for Asia from Spain in the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria

Why did Spain Finance the Journey? Its just good business For centuries European countries had been trying to get the upper hand over each other financially and were constantly at war with each other to get it Even though Spain didn’t fully trust or believe Columbus, they also didn’t want him to accomplish this feat for another European country Religious implications Queen Isabella, as well as the Spanish nation, was a devout Catholic and saw that their religion could be spread through these explorations

Why did Columbus Want to go on this Voyage? Fame and fortune The contract that Columbus signed with Ferdinand and Isabella included the following: Received a 10 percent commission on all commerce including pearls, precious stones, gold, silver, spices

Reaching the America’s After 5 grueling weeks on the waves Land was spotted on October 2, 1492. He had stopped in September to re-stock in the Canary Islands. Columbus believed that he had reached the Indies of Southeast Asia, he named his first sight San Salvador (Holy Savior) In reality he had just landed on an island in the Bahamas After meeting the natives of the area he used them as guides to show him the other islands of the area

Reaching the America’s For several months Columbus traveled to several islands, including Cuba and Hispaniola Finding gold, pearls, and other precious materials. He was sure that he had reached Asia Columbus returned to Spain to report his findings, leaving 39 of his men to continue relations with the natives

An Expanding Horizon Columbus made 3 more voyages back to the Americas but never brought back the treasures that he promised the Spanish rulers Reports of Columbus torturing, enslaving, and killing thousands of native people reached the Spanish monarchs The monarchs withdrew their support for further explorations

An Expanding Horizon In time, Europe learned that Columbus had in fact discovered a new continent and wanted to see what America had that could make them rich Columbus’s discovery opened up an avenue of great wealth for Spain, and as Spain grew rich, England and France would soon follow in search of their own riches

Columbus Quiz What did Europe trade with Asia for? What was Columbus’s plan? What major flaw did Columbus’s plan have? Who were Spain’s monarchs that financed Columbus’s trip? Upon landing, where did Columbus believe he had landed? How did Columbus use the natives of the islands he discovered? Discoveries of what, convinced Columbus that he had reached Asia? What happened to the men that Columbus left behind? Why did this happen? What did Columbus’s discovery open? Bonus +5 How many total voyages did Columbus make?

Hernan Cortes Spain hoped to take control of the Americas Spain sent private expeditions of conquistadores (Spanish soldiers in search of glory, gold and land) to the Americas Cortes was sent to modern day Mexico to conquer the Aztec Empire in 1519 The Empire was ruled by Moctezuma To make sure his soldiers would not retreat he burned all of his ships

Hernan Cortes The Aztecs had large amounts of gold, precious gems and silver Moctezuma gave treasure to Cortes, but it wasn’t enough Cortes took Moctezuma captive Moctezuma was killed when fighting broke out and Cortes fled the city after a defeat in June 1520 In May 1521 he attacked again after almost a year of planning He defeated the Aztecs with help from local tribes and built present day Mexico City on top of the ruins

Hernan Cortes By 1600 Spain controlled much of North and South America