Columbus Discovers the Americas

Reasons for European Exploration 1.The Crusades 2.Emergence of Strong Central States 3.The Renaissance 4.New Technology 5.Expanding Horizons

The Crusades (1095 – 1291) Brought Europeans into contact with the Middle East Europeans wanted spices and luxury items from China and India

Emergence of Strong States France, England, Spain, Italy, Portugal By 1300s feudalism was declining Kings were becoming more powerful Trade was booming

The Renaissance (1350 – 1600) Rebirth of learning Read Greek, Roman & Arab texts

New Technology Compass Astrolabe Improved ships (sails, masts, etc.)

Expanding Horizons Portuguese explore African coast Reach India Import gold, ivory, pepper and palm oil

Christopher Columbus Born in Genoa, Italy in 1451 Worked as a map maker 1470s – began looking for financial backing to find a western route to India Wanted: Title of Admiral of the Oceans 10 % of all the loot Governorship to his heirs 1492 – Queen Isabella of Spain gave him three ships Died in 1506, at age 55

Tobacco Columbus and other explorers brought back tobacco seeds to Spain Europeans believed it was a miracle herb which could: Ward off the plague Cure sword wounds Clear congested lungs!!

Columbian Exchange

Other European Explorers John Cabot (England) Vasco Nunez de Balboa (Spain) Ferdinand Magellan (Spain) Giovanni Verranzo (France) Jacques Cartier (France) Francisco Coronado (Spain) Sir Francis Drake (England) Sir Walter Raleigh (England) Juan de Onate (Spain) Samuel de Champlain (France) Henry Hudson (Netherlands) Juan Ponce de Leon (Spain) Hernán Cortez (Spain) Francisco Pizarro (Spain) Hernando de Soto (Spain) Amerigo Vespucci

European Explorers

Spain and the Three G’s God Gold Glory

What about the Natives? Indian Slavery Encomeinda – a land owner had the right to the labor of all natives who lived on the land Created by Columbus Gold Tax War

Priests Priests and missionaries regularly traveled with the explorers Tried to convert the natives to Christianity Most were good and honestly tried to help the natives Others used the cross to justify bad treatment 1514, Pope Leo X declared, “not only the Christian religion but Nature cries out against the slavery and the slave trade.” Bartolome de las Casas Priest who tried protecting the rights of Native Americans

Disease Disease was the Europeans most formidable weapon The Indians’ immune system had no defense against diseases such as measles and smallpox Spread via the trade routes of Indians Disease killed thousand times more Indians than guns or swords

African Slave Trade Once Native populations had been decimated, the Europeans began turning to Africa for their labor

Treaty of Tordesillas

Black Legend

French Territories The French claimed the land around the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes Also claimed the land all along the Mississippi River down to New Orleans Fishing and trapping for fur were their main enterprises

English Territories The English claimed the land along America’s Eastern coast They were most interested in settling the land

The Lost Colony 1587 – Sir Walter Raleigh sent a group of colonists to what is now Virginia 89 men, 7 women, 11 children Called their colony Roanoke 1590 – a relief expedition arrived to find no remains of the colony

Jamestown