The Atlantic World Chapter Four 1300s-1800s

The Age of Exploration What was the Age of Exploration? A time period when Europeans began to explore the rest of the world How was this possible? Improvements in mapmaking, shipbuilding, rigging, and navigation made long voyages possible Why do European countries explore? Policy of mercantilism drives exploration Finding new trade routes and trading “partners” were paramount

What is mercantilism? Policy that stated there was a limited amount of money (gold and silver) in the world Each country needed to grab what they can before it is gone Export more than you import in order to create a favorable balance of trade Colonies and markets were needed to keep everything in the system

Why did explorers explore? Many reasons Some reasons include: To find a sea route to the spices of Asia To find gold, silver, and precious stones To expand their knowledge of the world To control a larger empire To expand Christianity To find animal furs “Gold, God, and Glory!”

The Explorers Portugal Vasco de Gama Ferdinand Magellan Landed in India in 1498 Established an important trade route from Europe to India and the East Indies Ferdinand Magellan His crew completed the first circumnavigation of the world in 1525 Magellan was killed in the Philippines

Voyage of Vasco de Gama

Magellan’s Voyage

The Explorers Spain Christopher Columbus Believed he could reach the Indies faster by traveling west…found North America instead Established the Columbian Exchange A massive exchange of goods, plants, animals and diseases Exchange between New and Old Worlds

Columbian Exchange

The Struggle over the New World European countries fought for control of the New World and its natural resources New World provided for opportunities for great wealth Colonizing European powers: France England Spain Portugal

Struggle Turns to Conflict England wanted more land in the New World First defeated the Dutch Dispute over lands in the Ohio Valley led to a war in 1754 This began the Seven Years’ War with France The battle in the New World was known as the French an Indian War

The Conquistadors Spain Hernan Cortes in Mexico Able to defeat the mighty Aztec Empire Used superior weapons, allies, and disease 96% of the Aztec population died from 1500-1620 From 25 million to less than 1 million

Cortes and the Aztecs Montezuma believed that Cortes was a god Invaded Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1520 Was aided by Malinche a native woman translator

The Conquistadors Francisco Pizzaro in Peru Arrived in South America in 1532 Defeated the Incan Empire (80,000 soldiers) Ambushed and kidnapped the Incan ruler Received a ransom then strangled and killed him anyway

Pizzaro and the Inca Incan ruler was Atahualpa Spanish ambushed unarmed Incan soldiers and captured Atahualpa Pizarro was offered a room full of gold and silver, which he accepted The Spanish then strangled Atahualpa

The Death of Atahualpa

Francisco Pizzaro

Europeans in North America 1524 - Italian Giovanni de Verrazano discovered New York Harbor 1607 -The English settle Jamestown in Virginia England’s 1st permanent settlement 1608 - Frenchman Samuel de Champlain founded “New France” Today it is Quebec 1609 - Henry Hudson finds the “Hudson River” Claims Manhattan Island for the Dutch

The Atlantic Slave Trade Europeans needed slave labor in their colonies to grow crops, mine, etc. Native Americans were used, but many died due to disease Death rate due to disease was extremely high Africans replaced the Natives as the main source of slave labor for the Europeans Completely changed the trade relationship between Europe and Africa

The Atlantic Slave Trade Timeline Spain and Portugal began the trade 1600-1700s Slave Trade grows dramatically 1690 England increases the Slave Trade 1870 The Atlantic Slave Trade ends

Atlantic Slave Trade Effects Begins a system of “Triangular Trade” Africa, Europe, and Americas all participate African rulers and traders made deals with Europeans for slaves Introduction of guns into African continent Western African economy and empires crumbled Slaves are transported through the “Middle Passage”

Triangular Trade

The Middle Passage

The Middle Passage The Slave Ships Once in the New World The captain could be a “tight” or “loose” packer “Tight” meant slaves would be placed lying on each other Typically 20 percent or more Africans would die on the way to the New World Disease, malnutrition, beatings, suicide Once in the New World Slaves were auctioned of to the highest bidder This could easily separate families Slavery was a life-long condition, as well as hereditary

The Middle Passage

Slavery in the New World Slave Resistance Slaves tried to keep their cultural heritage Musical traditions Ancestral stories Slave Rebellion Often broke tools or worked slowly Many ran away Numerous revolts throughout the years

The Growth of Global Trade Economic systems of Europe drastically changed Colonial empires that stretched through multiple continents led to a new business and trade practices Capitalism Joint-Stock Companies

What is Capitalism? Economic system based on private ownership and the investment of resources, such as money, for profit Economic system where things are owned by people or an individual, not by a government Profits allow individuals and businesses to become extremely wealthy, not just the government

What is a Joint-Stock Company? A business in which a number of investors combine their wealth for a common purpose Very similar to a modern-day corporation Early on in the 1500-1600s the purpose was colonization Overseas colonies were very expensive, but could be very profitable

Changes in European Society Exploration and colonization led to an economic growth and boom in Europe Spurred the growth of towns and cities Rise of the merchant class with great wealth European nations became very wealthy Power monarchs increased greatly Majority of Europeans still remained poor and rural THE END