Exploration and Conquest of the Americas

Reasons for Exploration: Gold Spice trade controlled by Italians & Ottoman Turks Slave trade controlled by North African Muslims Copyright 2000, Wadsworth/Thomson Learning

Reasons for Exploration: God The Reconquista ended with the fall of Granada in Jan. 1492 Conquest & conversion of Indians seen as extension Hoped to join forces with mythical Kingdom of Prester John & renew Crusades Queen Isabella

Reasons for Exploration: Glory & technological advances Desire to win fame & fortune Inspired in part by Renaissance humanism Technological advances: Compass, astrolabe & quadrant Better portaline maps Caravel – 1st ship capable of tacking against the wind Portuguese caravel

The Portuguese Explorers Est. sugar colonies in Madeira (1420), Azores (1427), Cape Verde Islands (1460) & Saõ Tomé (1470) Bartholomew Diaz rounded Cape of Good Hope in 1488 Vasco da Gama led successful expedition to India, 1497-99 Rejected Columbus because they knew his calculations were way off – under-estimated circumference

Vasco da Gama Church

Christopher Columbus Columbus sailed west in Aug. 1492 – reached Bahamas on Oct. 12 Explored Cuba & Hispaniola, then returned to Portugal March 4, 1493 Made 3 more voyages Died convinced he had been to Asia 4 times

The Spanish Explorers Christopher Columbus sailed west in Aug. 1492, exploring Caribbean Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided world between Spain (west) & Portugal (east) Amerigo Vespucci first to call it a new continent Pedro Alvarez Cabral claimed Brazil for Portugal in 1500 Vasco Nuñez de Balboa crossed Panama in 1513 & sees Pacific

The Conquistadores Adelantados – private contractors hired by King Hernan Cortes conquered Mexican Empire (Aztecs), 1519-21 Young minor nobleman Led revolt by subject tribes who resented tribute & human sacrifices Francisco Pizzaro conquered Inca, 1531-32 Took advantage of civil war Spread smallpox deliberately Hernan Cortes Francisco Pizzaro

The Spanish Empire Viceroys ruled New Spain & Peru on King’s behalf Each divided into provinces Governors & audencias (courts) ruled provinces Haciendas = large plantations growing cash crops (sugar, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, etc.) Mines were principle source of wealth for Spain 16 million kg. entered Spain between 1503-1650 Crown kept 1/5 (quinto) Flowed primarily to Spanish Netherlands

Slave Labor Encomienda = grant of Indian labor to mine & hacienda owners Repartimiento = requirement that Indians work so many days for Spanish Modeled on feudalism, but no protection for workers When Indians died off, replaced by Africans