Lecture 2.5: Early Asian/American Exploration

 What country found a more direct naval route to India for the spice trade?  How did they control this route?  Who commissioned Columbus’ voyage? Where was he trying to go?  Did Columbus “discover” America? Why or why not?  If Mr. Sliwa were a tree, what kind of tree would he be? Why? KNIGHT’S CHARGE

WEIRD DISNEY FACT OF THE DAY! Pumba is the first Disney character to ever… What? Fart in a Disney film! (47 sec mark)

 Most of India was currently being ruled by the Mughal Empire.  Southern India was still controlled by local princes.  The Portuguese won over the princes with the promise of aid to fight off other Europeans.  The Indian Ocean would then fall under the control of the Portuguese. PORTUGUESE IN INDIA

 The Dutch are from the Netherlands.  The Dutch would set up a strategic location in Cape Town South Africa.  This would give them a middle ground between Europe and Asia and a foothold in Africa. RISE OF THE DUTCH

 Wealthy Dutch merchants formed the East India Trading Company!  The EIC had full sovereign (not controlled by any government) POWER!  The EIC would dominate trade throughout Asia and surpass the Portuguese.  EIC…Sounds familiar…YO…HO? EIC…Sounds familiar…YO…HO? RISE OF THE DUTCH

 Spain would take over the Philippines.  The British would buy out the East India Trading Company from the Dutch and kick them out of them out of India.  This was the first step in the British control of India. ASIA FINALE

 After Columbus landed in the Americas, he would start a chain reaction that would drastically effect the lives of the native peoples. THE AMERICAS

 The Taino (Natives of the Caribbean) welcomed Columbus with open arms.  The relationship soon fell apart when the Taino refused to accept Christianity.  Columbus then took over their land and took several Taino prisoners back to the Spanish king as “gifts.”  Columbus would then comb the land looking for gold. THE AMERICAS

 Columbus was the first wave of Conquistadors, or Spanish Conquerors.  There were MANY more natives than there were Conquistadors, but, the Spanish had…  GUNS, Cannons, and Horses (all of which the native people had never seen before.) THE AMERICAS

 Europeans also carried smallpox, influenza, and measles (diseases).  The natives had no immunity, or resistance, to these diseases.  90% of the people in the Caribbean (9/10) died due to these diseases. THE AMERICAS

 The Spanish were told by others that there was a large amount of gold in Mexico.  Hernan Cortes (not a nice guy) landed in Mexico in 1519 with the intent of conquering everything and claiming all riches.  Cortes headed towards Tenochtitlan (Aztec capital).  He also stopped along the way and made alliances with tribes that the Aztecs had conquered. THE AMERICAS

 Moctezuma, the Aztec king, heard of Cortes’ approach and thought that he may be a god, so he sent gifts and messages begging him not to come any closer.  Cortes came anyways … THE AMERICAS

 Moctezuma welcomed Cortes.  The first thing that the Spanish tried to do was to convert the Aztecs to Christianity. The Aztecs did not understand why, so they resisted.  Cortes took Moctezuma as a prisoner so that he could steal his gold and other treasures.  The Aztecs would fight the Spanish out of Tenochtitlan, but would lose their king in the process.  However, Cortes came back with native allies and destroyed Tenochtitlan.  This was possible because smallpox had recently killed most of the Aztecs. THE AMERICAS

 Spanish adventurer, Francisco Pizarro, wanted to take over the Inca and take their treasure…What an ass.  The Incas were low in numbers as they had just finished fighting a civil war.  The Incas refused Christianity…So….  The Spanish killed thousands of Incas, including their king. Nice huh? THE AMERICAS