1. European Background Renaissance—1300-1600
Europeans become more worldly, have better technology, and demand for luxury goods increases.

2. 1492
Columbus discovers America!
Reconquista is complete.

3. Conquistadors
Spanish fighters who explored and conquered vast tracts of North, Central, and South America. “To serve God, the king and to get rich”---or, “God, gold and glory”!

4. Hall of Fame (or Shame?) 1513 – Ponce de Leon discovers Florida
1519 – Hernando Cortez begins his conquest of the Aztecs
1531 – Francisco Pizarro conquers the Incas

5. Cruel and Deceitful
Pizarro’s feat was amazing---less than 200 men took over an empire of 6 million. But he was also cruel, killing the Inca after promising to release him for a huge ransom.

6. Spanish Disappointment
North America was a disappointment because of its lack of gold. Settlement was limited to an arch of missions and a few towns, such as St. Augustine (1565).

7. New France
‘Fish and Fur’

8. Coureur De Bois
The ‘woods runners’ successfully adopted Indian ways and generally lived in harmony with the tribes. Everyone exploited the New World, just in different ways.