+ European Explorers and the New World

+ Portugal Henry the Navigator Portuguese Prince Established a court to send on expeditions through the Atlantic and the Western coast of Africa Ultimate Goal: to find a water route around Africa to India Vasco da Gama Set out for India in 1497 and was successful 10 months later Pedro Cabral Sailed further west to avoid the windless Gulf of Guinea Found and claimed Brazil as a Portuguese territory

+ Brazil Brazil had heavy jungles Made mining and farming difficult Colonists started to settle in Brazil in the 1530s along the Atlantic coast Established huge farming estates Used Native American and African slaves as labor

+ Treaty of Tordesillas Treaty between Spain and Portugal Drew an imaginary line through the Atlantic Ocean Stated everything to the West of the line belonged to Spain, everything to the East belonged to Portugal.

+ Spain Christopher Columbus King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella paid for his voyage Believed he could sail west around the world from Spain to China When he reached the Caribbean, he believed he had reached the Asian island, the Indies Returned to Spain with exotic goods and Native Americans Parrots, jewels, gold, and plants Amerigo Vespucci Sailed across the coast of South America and concluded it was not Asia, but a new land

+ Spain Cont. Vasco Nunez de Balboa Led an expedition across the Isthmus of Panama First European to see the Pacific Ocean Ferdinand Magellan Goal: to sail around the world Finished their expedition under the leadership of Juan Sebastian Set sail in 1519 with 5 ships and 250 men, in 1522, 18 arrived in Spain First to circumnavigate the world

+ The Caribbean Hispaniola and Cuba Encomienda System: A colonist was given a certain amount of land and a number of Native Americans to work it. In exchange for this land and labor, the colonist was required to teach their Native Americans the ways of Christianity. Led to overworked and mistreated Native Americans Natives caught European diseases Small pox, tuberculosis, measles, etc. Millions died

+ Mexico Conquistador: Spanish military conqueror who fought against the native peoples of the Americas. Hernan Cortes: conquered the Aztec Empire Aztecs were powerful but unpopular among those they conquered Thousands of Natives joined Cortes to fight against the Aztecs Had metal weapons (including guns) and heavy armor, and horses European diseases killing thousands

+ Peru Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incans Small Pox killed many Incas, including their emperor Pizarro destroyed the Incan army at their capital and took over the empire

+ Life in the Spanish Empire Viceroys: officials chosen by the Spanish king to rule specific areas under the king Economy based on gold and silver mining Native Americans provided the labor Disease and mistreatment dropped the Native American population from 50 million to 4 million (90%) Started importing Africans to replace Native American slaves

+ England John Cabot Sailed from England to Canada Entire fleet disappeared at sea Sir Francis Drake Set off to explore west coast of South America Second man to circumnavigate the world Henry Hudson In 1607, Hudson set out to the north searching for a Northeast Passage around Europe to Asia

+ English Colonies First colony was Jamestown, Virginia – established in 1607 Wanted gold and silver, found marshy ground and impure water 80% died during first winter in the Americas In 1620, the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts Settlement was self-sufficient in 5 years English colonists viewed the Natives Americans with anger and distrust

+ France Wanted Northwest Passage around the world above North America Jacques Cartier Set off in 1534 Claimed all land along St. Lawrence River – New France (Canada)

+ New France French took advantage of the wildlife in New France (Canada) North Atlantic water – full of fish Canadian forests – full of fox, lynx, otter, beaver, etc (sold for their fur) Didn’t send large number of colonists to the new world Didn’t enslave Native Americans Explored the coast of the Mississippi looking for the Pacific Claimed the enormous Mississippi region – Louisiana (named after King Louis XIV)

+ Conflict between France and Great Britain In the mid-1700s, English colonists began to settle in French territory War broke out in 1754 – French and Indian War Great Britain won the war, but it was very costly The king charged the colonies high taxes to pay for the war Led to resentment that brought about the American Revolution

+ Netherlands Henry Hudson In 1609, Hudson set sail once again to find a Northeast Passage around Asia When unsuccessful, started searching for a Northwest Passage through the Americas Explored the modern day Hudson River and the Hudson Bay

+ New Netherlands Hudson River Valley Small settlement Dutch were more focused on their colonies in the Caribbean and southeast Asia Sugar and spices