European POWERS During the end of the 1400 and 1500s, powerful countries in Europe wanted to go to new places The powerful European countries were Spain, Portugal, England, France, and Italy

FRANCE SPAIN ITALY ENGLAND PORTUGAL

WHY? Europeans wanted to discover new lands for different reasons… To be rich…to find gold, silver, spices To be more powerful in Europe To be famous To find new people to trade with To spread Christian religion To build empires (to have more territory)

What land did each European power conquer?

Spanish territory

Portugal’s territory

England’s Empire

French Empire

Italy’s Empire

But remember, the Europeans did not “discover” these lands. People ALREADY lived there and had civilizations.

Christopher Colombus (Cristobal Colon) arrived in the island of San Salvador in This was the beginning of the DISCOVERY and CONQUEST of the continents of North and South America

At first these lands were named “The Indies” because Columbus thought he arrived in India

Christopher Columbus is the most famous, but there were MANY others

CCAVFMVNBFPHC Country he sailed for Year he sailed Where he sailed to Why he sailed Why he is famous

Christopher Columbus He sailed for Spain (1492) He wanted to find a more direct route to Asia. When he landed in the Americas, he thought he was in India. That’s why natives are called “indios” or “Indians” Columbus and his men captured many natives and sold them into slavery He was the first European on the American continent

Christopher Columbus Trip 1: Arrived in San Salvador with 3 ships Trip 2: Arrived on Dominican Republic with 17 ships Trip 3: Arrived in Venzuela. He was the first European to step on the American continent Trip 4: Went to Mexico, Hondorus, Panama. He died and was buried in Mexico &feature=fvwrel &feature=fvwrel

Americo Vespucio Italy/Spain He sailed to the Americas in 1499 He sailed to the north coast of South America. He sailed to Venezuela, Brazil, and “found” Rio de la Plata He realized that the continent was NOT Asia The continent was named “America” in honor of Americo Vespucio

Ferdinand Magellan (PORTUGAL) – 1518 He sailed around the world He wanted to find a west route to the Spice Islands

Vasco Nunez de Balboa 1500 Spain He sailed to find gold and treasure He had a colony in San Sebastian He was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean Then he spent a month traveling down the coast conquoring natives and stealing their gold

Francisco Pizarro SPANISH 1526 He wanted to find gold Conquored the Incas and Peru

Hernan Cortes (SPANISH) 1519 He wanted to find gold and adventure Conquored Mexico and the Aztecs

What was it like to sail in a boat across the Atlantic Ocean?

Sunday, 9 September. Sailed this day nineteen leagues. In the night sailed 120 miles, at the rate of ten miles an hour. The sailors steered badly, causing the vessels to fall toward the northeast…so the Admiral reprimanded them repeatedly.

Christopher Colombus Monday, 17 September. Steered west and sailed, day and night, above fifty leagues. They saw a great deal of sea plants. They thought that land was near. At dawn they saw a live crab, which are signs of land…because they are never found more than eighty leagues out at sea. They found the sea-water less salty since they left the Canaries, and the air more mild. They were all very cheerful This morning he says he saw a white bird called a water- wagtail, or tropic bird, which does not sleep at sea.

Tuesday, 25 September At sunset Martin Alonzo called out with great joy that he saw land, and demanded of the Admiral a reward for his intelligence. The Admiral says, when he heard him declare this, he fell on his knees and returned thanks to God, and his crew repeated Gloria in excelsis Deo The sea was very smooth and many of the sailors went in it to bathe, saw many dories and other fish. Wednesday, 26 September. Continued their course west till the afternoon, then southwest and discovered that what they had taken for land was nothing but clouds.

What can you tell about the trip across the sea?

The first words Colombus said about the natives… “They were very friendly to us…they could be more easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means than by force I presented them with some red caps, and many other trifles of small value… they were delighted, and became attached to us. After, they came swimming to the boats, bringing parrots, balls of cotton thread, javelins, and many other things, which they exchanged for articles we gave them, such as glass beads, and hawk's bells But they seemed to me, to be a very poor people. They all go completely naked, even the women, though I saw but one girl. All were young, not above thirty years of age, well made, with fine shapes and faces; their hair short, and coarse like a horse's tail. Some paint themselves with black; others with white, others with red, and others with such colors as they can find. Some paint the face, and some the whole body; others only the eyes, and others the nose.

Weapons they have none and have never seen them. I showed them swords which they took by the blades, and cut themselves through ignorance. They have no iron, their javelins being without it, and nothing more than sticks They are all of a good size and stature, and handsomely formed. It appears to me, that the people are ingenious, and would be good servants I think that they would very easily become Christians, as they appear to have no religion. I intend to take six Indians to your Highnesses, so they may learn our language. I saw no beasts in the island, nor any sort of animals except parrots."

Sunday, 14 October. In the morning, I ordered the boats to be got ready, and coasted along the island toward the north. We discovered two or three villages, and the people all came down to the shore, calling out to us, and giving thanks to God. Some brought us water, and others food: others asked us if we had come from heaven. An old man came on board my boat; the others, both men and women cried with loud voices-- "Come and see the men who have come from heavens. Bring them victuals and drink."

I do not see the necessity of fortifying the place The people here are simple in war-like matters I could conquer the whole of them with fifty men, and govern them as I pleased.

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