1. 8th Grade US History Chapter 2 Exploration and Conquest of the Americas
Bell Ringer:
Why did explorers from Europe sail to
find a route to Asia?
What kinds of danger did they face?
Why did they go so far to get something they thought
was valuable?

2. Exploration and Conquest of the Americas
Read “The Story Matters”
Learning Objectives: Course Description:
Eighth grade students will study the European
exploration of North America, along with the
geographic features that influenced early settlements
and colonies

3. Exploration and Conquest of the Americas

5. Reasons for Exploration: Gold
Spice trade controlled by Italians & Ottoman Turks
Slave trade controlled by North African Muslims
Copyright 2000, Wadsworth/Thomson Learning

6. Bell Ringer for Lesson 1
How did trade develop new ideas among different groups and peoples?

7. Reasons for Exploration: God
The Reconquista ended with the fall of Granada in Jan. 1492
Conquest & conversion of Indians seen as extension
Hoped to join forces with mythical Kingdom of Prester John & renew Crusades
Queen Isabella

8. Reasons for Exploration: Glory & technological advances
Desire to win fame & fortune
Inspired in part by Renaissance humanism
Technological advances:
Compass, astrolabe & quadrant
Better portaline maps
Caravel – 1st ship capable of tacking against the wind
Portuguese caravel

10. Bell Ringer for Chapter 2 Section 2
How did the rise of the Italian city-states help lead to the Renaissance?

11. The Portuguese Explorers
Est. sugar colonies in Madeira (1420), Azores (1427), Cape Verde Islands (1460) & Saõ Tomé (1470)
Bartholomew Diaz rounded Cape of Good Hope in 1488
Vasco da Gama led successful expedition to India,
Rejected Columbus because they knew his calculations were way off – under-estimated circumference

12. Vasco da Gama Church

13. Christopher Columbus
Columbus sailed west in Aug – reached Bahamas on Oct. 12
Explored Cuba & Hispaniola, then returned to Portugal March 4, 1493
Made 3 more voyages
Died convinced he had been to Asia 4 times

14. The Spanish Explorers
Christopher Columbus sailed west in Aug. 1492, exploring Caribbean
Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided world between Spain (west) & Portugal (east)
Amerigo Vespucci first to call it a new continent
Pedro Alvarez Cabral claimed Brazil for Portugal in 1500
Vasco Nuñez de Balboa crossed Panama in 1513 & sees Pacific

15. Group Work Chapter 2 Sections 1 and 2 Exploring other Planets
You are an explorer on a voyage to another planet.
What kinds of
Equipment would you need?
What are the risks of
the voyage?
What would make people
want to make such a voyage
anyway?

16. The Conquistadores Adelantados – private contractors hired by King
Hernan Cortes conquered Mexican Empire (Aztecs),
Young minor nobleman
Led revolt by subject tribes who resented tribute & human sacrifices
Francisco Pizzaro conquered Inca,
Took advantage of civil war
Spread smallpox deliberately
Hernan Cortes
Francisco Pizzaro

19. The Spanish Empire Viceroys ruled New Spain & Peru on King’s behalf
Each divided into provinces
Governors & audencias (courts) ruled provinces
Haciendas = large plantations growing cash crops (sugar, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, etc.)
Mines were principle source of wealth for Spain
16 million kg. entered Spain between
Crown kept 1/5 (quinto)
Flowed primarily to Spanish Netherlands

20. Slave Labor
Encomienda = grant of Indian labor to mine & hacienda owners
Repartimiento = requirement that Indians work so many days for Spanish
Modeled on feudalism, but no protection for workers
When Indians died off, replaced by Africans