European Incursion in and Settlement (Conquest) of the Americas

The Renaissance and Reformation Heroic Individualism Interest in Geography New maritime technology—astrolabe, lateen rigging Emergence of Dynastic States Strategic and Religious Rivalry

Other European Motives Escape disease and scarcity Secure raw materials and markets Why Europe and not China? Zheng He commanded a large treasure fleet in the 1430s, but China had no incentive to explore beyond the Indian Ocean and East African Coast.

Portuguese Forays Along the African Coast to India (Prince Henry the Navigator) Bartholomew Dias around the Cape of Good Hope (1488) Vasco da Gama to India (1498) Pedro Cabral to Brazil (1500)

Spanish Forays Christopher Columbus (1492—first of 4 voyages) Columbus Controversy—hero or instigator of genocide?

Christopher Columbus

The Pinta and the Santa Maria

Spanish Empire in the New World Conquistadors conquer Mexica and Quechua (Cortes and Pizarro) Coronado and DeSoto explore interior of North America Focus on Silver in Mexico, especially rich strikes at Zacatecas. Encomienda Great Biological Exchange—colonization as Swarming Black Legend (la leyenda negra)

Empire and Balance of Power England and Spain clashed over trade. England raided Spanish treasure fleets and supported Protestant Rebels in the Spanish Netherlands. Elizabeth I refused to marry Philip II Philip II sent Spanish Armada

Results of Armada English freer to exploit North Atlantic Spanish sea power was considerably weakened English morale heightened.

English Motives for Colonization Richard Hakluyt Source of raw materials and agricultural products Prevent Spain and other Catholic Powers from settling Promote a better standing navy Spread the Anglican faith Acquire precious metals Need to dispose of excess population

Walter Raleigh Established Roanoke on Carolina’s outer banks Armada interfered with supplying ti. “Lost Colony”

Roanoke

Features of 17 th Century English Colonies Mixture of governmental regulation and private enterprise. Religious, social, and economic diversity A relatively great deal of local control—House of Burgesses, Colonial Charters, Town Meetings Trend toward greater Royal control after 1650 More highly peopled by Europeans than the colonies of France and Spain. Displacement of Native Peoples; enslavement of African peoples.

French Colonies European Strategic rivalries and internal French politics shaped French Settlement Originally looking for a Northwest passage, France used the Empire as a source of furs and as a check on Spanish and English Expansion Controversial coureurs de bois. Ecological balance of power

So what? Indigenous people weakened Europe surges ahead of Middle East, India, and China, in wealth, commerce, and military power Europeans establish themselves in Western Hemisphere, India, and Australia and New Zealand Incorporation of non-European world into European economic and diplomatic systems.