1. 15th Century Europe Goals of this lecture
Examine how monarchs consolidated their power and ruled their states
Examine the organization of smaller republics into communes and trade unions
Examine motivations for exploration during the Renaissance

2. Politics in the Renaissance
Rise of new monarchies
The Growth of the French Monarchy
Power to tax
Large Army
England: Civil War and NEw Monarchy
Unification of Spain
France: Taxes and the threat of nobles
Nobility – high ranking landowners
Felt the effects of 100 Years War
Desolate farmlands, ruined commerce and unruly nobility made it for the monarchy. But the war also developed French national feeling, and gave the King the excuse to expand power. The King was given the right to tax the people, which gave the King control of the decision making.
England: English economy was strained during the 100 years war and eventually led to a civil war – “The War of the Roses” which Henry VII emerged. He expanded the power of the monarchy and established “The Court of the Star Chamber” to put irresponsible nobles on trial without jury.
Spain
Unified Spain by their marriage and instituted a program of “religious uniformity” – forcing conversions and expelling Jews and Muslims from Spain.

3. Republics and smaller states
Example of Florence
Papal States
Who is this guy?
Not all states were large nations. Florence and other papal states were “communes” or places that had gained independence form nobility. Most were ruled by merchant or otherwise powerful families
These states were often at war as powerful states rising often challenged others.
Florence – Medici family. “Bankers of God”
Birthplace of the Renaissance – why??
Patronage
Inequality in Italian states: wealthy families had the power to tax and also held office. The poorer people, or popolo were often resentful and bitter.

4. Exploration begins with Mediterranean states of Spain and Portugal
Portugal – exploring parts of Africa and India – setting up trading ports
Spain – sends Columbus out in search of a passage to Asia

5. Motives for expansion
The lure of fantastic lands – the pursuit of the exotic
God, Gold Glory
Economic: new ports for trade, especially spice. In “spiceless” Europe, spices were valuable and outrageously expensive because they were so rare. In fact, Columbus was hoping to find cinnamon in India on his voyages, and brought back plants to Spain insisting they were cinnamon (they weren’t), even though cinnamon doesn’t grow in the Americas (he still insisted he was in India)
Social/Religious: During the time of Ferdinand and Isabella and beyond, Spain was known for its Catholic zeal. Gaining new converts to Christianity was a motive.
Political power – Spain vs. Portugal
Later on the power will shift from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic States
Centralized monarchies made exploration possible but also provided a motive for power: competition

6. New Technologies (Science has a Renaissance too!)
Maps ships other technologies
The printing press allowed productions of maps. Although the maps did not show the American continent, they still aided explorers.
Ships and sailing: Better seafaring technology – ships could go further, be more protected and carry cannons and a substantial amount of goods.
Magnetic compass and astrolabe were navigational tools

7. Do I need to know every explorer my book mentions?
NO…you need to have examples to be able to provide evidence for motivations and impacts of exploration. Then why do I have to read about all of them? This gives you an opportunity to collect a wide variety of evidence. What are some voyages that came up in your reading?

8. Voyages of Conquest
Columbus’ voyage to modern day Cuba, Puerto Rico. Cortes’ conquest of the Aztec Empire Pizarro’s conquest of the Inca All result in disease and depopulation for the native peoples

9. Impacts of Exploration on Native Peoples
Depopulation
Encomienda system
Organized top down government (especially in Spanish colonies)
Loss of language and culture and creation of new cultures (mestizo)

10. The Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and Europe.
Africa becomes part of this exchange with the importation of people to the Americas.

11. The beginnings of slavery
Sugar plantation in Brazil
Slavery – Portuguese trading ports in Africa. At first Portuguese imported slaves to Portugal.
As sugar became a huge industry in the new world, so did slavery. The slave trade begain in 1518 and by 1600 thousands of slaves were being brought to Brazil. Later the slave trade would be other European nations and slaves would go to English, French, Dutch colonies.