European Exploration

Unit Objectives To learn the causes of European exploration To learn the impact of European exploration on the Native Americans and the Europeans To identify European explorers and their impact To determine if Columbus was a hero or a villian To learn why the Native Americans were conquered by the Europeans To identify where Native American empires existed

Imperialism/Colonialism A strong country or empire taking over a weaker country or region for its own benefit—usually establishing colonies Mercantilism: A country’s power depends on its wealth (gold and land) and its ability to balance its trade (imports vs exports)

Reasons for Imperialism God: TO SPREAD RELIGION AND CONVERT THE NATIVES—SAW IT AS THEIR DUTY (SAVING THE GODLESS NATIVES) 2. Glory: POWER THAT CAME WITH DOMINATING SO MUCH LAND—LAND BECAME MEASURING STICK FOR HOW POWERFUL AN EMPIRE WAS

3. Gold: ECONOMIC POWER 4. Other: LAND, NATURAL RESOURCES, MARKET FOR GOODS, INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, STRATEGIC LOCATIONS FOR NAVAL BASES, “SOCIAL DARWINISM” (SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST IN SOCIETY—FEELING OF SUPERIORITY)

Marco Polo got Europe interested in Asia with his stories about the treasures and spices he found there Portugal was the first nation to begin exploring the Atlantic in an effort to find a sea route to Asia (land routes had gotten too dangerous and costly) -Prince Henry the Navigator sponsored many voyages and was credited with building an empire -Bartholomeu Dias discovered a sea route to Asia around Africa (led to exploration of Africa) -Vasco de Gama tried to open trade with India; Not successful but treated like a hero anyway -Magellan was the first to circle the globe

Voyages of Bartolomeu Dias

Spain Columbus was an Italian who had to shop around for someone to fund his voyages; He believed the world was round and he could find a shorter route to Asia by sailing across the Atlantic—Most thought he was crazy and were unwilling to fund his voyages -Ferdinand & Isabella: RULERS OF SPAIN WHO FUNDED HIS VOYAGES

Ferdinand and Isabella

What was Columbus’ main goal:

FIND A NEW SEA ROUTE TO ASIA What did he actually do? Did he “discover America”?

HE FOUND, NOT DISCOVERED, THE NEW WORLD AND OPENED IT TO EUROPEAN EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION -Amerigo Vespucci: Later figured out the Americas were new continents and not Asia

Columbus

Spanish Conquistadors They were Spanish explorers who conquered native groups they encountered Main Goal: FIND GOLD (SECONDARY GOAL: SPREAD CHRISTIANITY)

Main Methods: KILL AND CONQUER, PLUNDER Hernando Cortes: CONQUERED AZTECS Francisco Pizarro: CONQUERED INCA

Cortes and Pizarro

Overall Impact of Conquistadors THEY WIPED OUT MANY NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES THEY BROUGHT SPANISH CULTURE AND CHRISTIANITY TO NEW WORLD

Social Pyramid Peninsulares: Pure-blood Spanish and Portuguese born in Europe and living in the New World—they were at the top of the social pyramid Creoles: Descendants of Europeans born in the New World—considered second-class by Peninsulares Mestizo Culture: Combination of Spanish and Native American cultures; Mulatto: Combination of Spanish and African cultures—Both considered to be socially inferior Africans and conquered Native Americans were at the very bottom

France Came to the new World for: FUR New France: French colonial empire in eastern Canada discovered and settled by Jacques Cartier and Samuel Champlain

Great Britain Great Britain was the last of the main powers to show an interest in the New World—Why? PROTESTANT QUEEN ELIZABETH I WANTED TO COMPETE WITH CATHOLIC SPAIN Main goal: ESTABLISH COLONIES

Sir Francis Drake was a British pirate who attacked Spanish ships Sir Walter Raleigh established the first attempt at a British colony in the New World (Roanoke)

Roanoke Colony

Main difference between how the British and Spaniards treated the Native Americans: SPANISH KILLED OR CONQUERED, BRITISH IGNORED THEM (WORKED TO CONQUER THE LAND, NOT THE NATIVE AMERICANS)

The British Navy defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588—The Spanish had dominated the seas with the Armada and the British victory gave them control of the Atlantic and greatly increased British colonization of America