1. Unit 1-European Exploration & Colonization of the Americas
Spain & France

2. Essential Questions
1. How did change and conflict in Europe encourage the onset of exploration and colonization of North America? 2. What motivated Europeans to take risks and relocate in America during the 16th and 17th Centuries? 3. What were the major characteristics of these colonies? How similar/different were they?

3. European Colonization of the Americas by the end of the 17th Century

4. I. How did change and conflict in Europe encourage the onset of exploration and colonization of North America?
Cultural Change
Economic Change
Political Change
Social/Intellectual Change
Technological Change

5. A. Cultural Change
During the Middle Ages (700s AD-1300s AD) the Roman Catholic Church was the dominate religious institution in Western Europe
By the early 700s, Muslim armies had taken huge areas of Asia and North Africa, along with most of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain & Portugal)
Led to the launch of the Crusades from 1096 AD-1270 AD; Christians failed to “rescue” the Holy Land around Jerusalem from Muslim control
But by 1492 the combined kingdoms of Queen Isabella of Castille and King Ferdinand of Aragon drove Muslims from the peninsula; this campaign by Spanish Christians had been known as the the reconquista

6. A. Cultural Change Crusades had consequences for Europe:
They sparked an increase in trade, as crusaders returned home with a taste for products from Asia
Crusades weakened the power of European nobles (many had lost lives and/or fortunes in the wars); allowed monarchs to consolidate power and to sponsor exploration for even more power
Crusades led to decline in the power of the Pope; tipped the balance of power in favor of the monarch

7. A. Cultural Change
Disagreements over church authority led to the Protestant Reformation of the early 1500s, dividing Christianity in Western Europe between Catholicism and Protestantism
This split would deepen rivalries between European nations and encouraged many to migrate to the colonies seeking religious freedom

8. B. Economic Change
The Crusades opened up Asian trade routes and appeased European tastes for Eastern luxuries such as silk, porcelain, tea and rugs
Merchants in Italian city-states were first to profit from trade with Asia by trading with Muslim merchants who controlled the flow of goods in the Middle East
By the end of the 1400s Europe’s population had rebounded from plagues that had killed over 25 million
New markets were being created as commerce increased; a new middle class based on trade grew to power
Merchants excepted taxes on newfound wealth in exchange for protection or expansion of trade

9. C. Political Change
By the late 1400s, four major nation-states were taking shape in western Europe: Portugal, Spain, France, and England
Crusades had weakened nobility and strengthened monarchs who found new allies in merchants
Monarchs in these countries began to collect new taxes, raise professional armies, and strengthen central government
Only the king or queen of such nations had enough power to finance overseas exploration
Motivation for exploration: money was essential to maintain status

10. Social/Intellectual Change
By the mid 1400s, the Renaissance had begun in Europe
Featured renewed interest in learning and the advancement of the arts and sciences
Trade with and awareness of the world increased
This produced wealth for the nation states of Europe; which would fuel more exploration
Spread of literature through the printing press helped promote the new Renaissance ideas of individualism and experimentation

11. Technological Change
Johannes Gutenberg introduced the first printing press to Europe in 1440; 1477 A.D.-first printed edition of Marco Polo’s journey in China
Compass and astrolabe used by sailors to plot direction
New sailing technology, like the caravel, helped sail against the wind