The Age of Exploration

Why explore? …Causes Renaissance = discovery and innovation Italians control trade with Asia (via Mediterranean)

Causes… Missionaries  want to spread their religion Others: Fame and Glory, Curiosity

Why now? Advances in Technology Compass and Astrolabe (from China)

Technology Advances in shipbuilding: Bigger ships withstand bad weather The Caravel Rudder Lateen Sails

Spain and Portugal – first to set sail Portuguese: Henry the Navigator – set up a school to teach navigation/create maps Goal – find a route around Africa to India Vasco Da Gama – Sailed to India Portugal sets up trade w/ India

The Spanish Columbus – 1492 travels to America (Hispaniola) Amerigo Vespucci – Travels to South America, realizes it’s not Asia

Balboa – 1513 crosses Panama first European to see Pacific

Ferdinand Magellan 1519-1522 - Lead the first expedition around the world, died on the way

English Cabot – 1497 sails to coast of Canada

Sir Francis Drake – Went around South America, accidentally sailed around the world

Henry Hudson 1607 - Searched for Northwest Passage around North America Found NY and Canada

Settlement founded by a “mother country,” usually for profit Colony: Settlement founded by a “mother country,” usually for profit

Spanish Colonization Ecomienda system: Settler is given natives as slaves to work the land, he must teach them Christianity

Conquistador – Spanish military leaders who fought natives

Hernan Cortez Conquistador who conquered the Aztecs Used Aztec enemies against them Captured/killed Moctezuma II

Francisco Pizarro – Conquistador who killed the Incan Emperor and took over Incan empire

The Spanish held Americas

Colonization: conquering and maintaining control of a territory

Viceroy – Spanish officials in charge of colonial territory

Economics of Colonialism Mercantalism = Colonies exsist to make $$$ for mother country Spanish colonies mined gold and silver and sent it back to Spain

Effects of Ecomienda System Native populations decrease by 90% Bartolome de Las Casas – suggests using African slaves instead

Portugal Wants Colonies Claims South American Territory Conflict with Spain Pope steps in (2x)

Treaty of Tordesillas West of the line = Spanish East of the line = Portuguese

Treaty of Tordesillas

Colony of Brazil – large plantations, worked by Native and later African Slaves Becomes $$$- maker for Portugal

French “New France” (aka Canada )

No gold or silver But… Fish + Fur = $$$ So… No large settlements, mostly trappers/traders

Dutch Colony of New Netherland New Amsterdam Focused on other colonies 40

English Several small colonies, not money makers – at first

The Columbian Exchange Contact between Europe and Americas leads to plants/animals spreading to new locations

Effects of Columbian Exchange Positive New types of food means better nutrition People live longer Negative Diseases also spread Significant decreases in the native population (They die, a lot)

Effects on Natives Population Inca 1492 – 13 million 1600 – 2 million Native Americans 1492 – 2 million 1900 – 500,000

So, an alternative source of Slaves is needed

Mercantilism Nation’s wealth = Nation’s Strength Wealth = Gold/Silver Strength = ability to fund Military Nations should have complete control of their economy

Mercantilism Fixed amount of wealth in the world 2 ways to create wealth: Colonies Favorable Balance of trade

Favorable Balance of Trade: “Better in than out” more $$$ coming into country than going out high tariffs on imports

Colonies exist to create wealth for mother country Colonies should not trade with other countries Colonies should buy from mother country

Capitalism Private ownership of means of production in order to create wealth (profits)

Joint-Stock Companies Investors pool money into one larger business Buy shares, get that share of profits Risk only money invested

The Atlantic Slave Trade

Plantations raise cash crops on a large scale Need cheap labor Natives die a lot African Slaves

The Triangle Trade

The Middle Passage

Effects 15-20 Million Africans enslaved Western Africa devastated and divided African Diaspora – diffusion of African Culture around the world