1. Unit 3 Columbus Discovers the Americas
Page 90-93

2. A Water Route to Asia
European  civilizations began trading with each other for goods that they didn’t have 
As the centuries went by, Europe expanded its trade routes to other parts of the world. Asia’s spices, fur, and silk were highly desired by Europeans
For centuries the only route to trade was over land
or sailing around Africa which took
several weeks
European countries were looking for a
faster and cheaper ocean route to get
the goods

3. Trade Routes to Asia

4. Columbus’ Plan
Columbus believed that sailing across the Atlantic would be much faster and convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to give him 3 ships for the journey

5. Columbus’ Plan
After being rejected by Portugal Columbus convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to finance his voyage west
On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail for Asia from Spain in the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria

6. Why did Spain Finance the Journey?
Its just good business
For centuries European countries had been trying to get the upper hand over each other financially and were constantly at war with each other to get it
Even though Spain didn’t fully trust or believe Columbus, they also didn’t want him to accomplish this feat for another European country
Religious implications
Queen Isabella, as well as the Spanish nation, was a devout Catholic and saw that their religion could be spread through these explorations

7. Why did Columbus Want to go on this Voyage?
Fame and fortune
The contract that Columbus signed with Ferdinand and Isabella included the following:
Received a 10 percent commission on all commerce including pearls, precious stones, gold, silver, spices

8. Reaching the America’s
After 5 grueling weeks on the waves Land was spotted on October 2, He had stopped in September to re-stock in the Canary Islands.
Columbus believed that he had reached the Indies of Southeast Asia, he named his first sight San Salvador (Holy Savior)
In reality he had just landed on an island in the Bahamas
After meeting the natives of the area he used them as guides to show him the other islands of the area

10. Reaching the America’s
For several months Columbus traveled to several islands, including Cuba and Hispaniola
Finding gold, pearls, and other precious materials. He was sure that he had reached Asia
Columbus returned to Spain to report his findings, leaving 39 of his men to continue relations with the natives

11. An Expanding Horizon
Columbus made 3 more voyages back to the Americas but never brought back the treasures that he promised the Spanish rulers
Reports of Columbus torturing, enslaving, and killing thousands of native people reached the Spanish monarchs
The monarchs withdrew their support for further explorations

12. An Expanding Horizon
In time, Europe learned that Columbus had in fact discovered a new continent and wanted to see what America had that could make them rich
Columbus’s discovery opened up an avenue of great wealth for Spain, and as Spain grew rich, England and France would soon follow in search of their own riches

13. Columbus Quiz What did Europe trade with Asia for?
What was Columbus’s plan?
What major flaw did Columbus’s plan have?
Who were Spain’s monarchs that financed Columbus’s trip?
Upon landing, where did Columbus believe he had landed?
How did Columbus use the natives of the islands he discovered?
Discoveries of what, convinced Columbus that he had reached Asia?
What happened to the men that Columbus left behind?
Why did this happen?
What did Columbus’s discovery open?
Bonus +5 How many total voyages did Columbus make?

14. Hernan Cortes Spain hoped to take control of the Americas
Spain sent private expeditions of conquistadores (Spanish soldiers in search of glory, gold and land) to the Americas
Cortes was sent to modern day Mexico to conquer the Aztec Empire in 1519
The Empire was ruled by Moctezuma
To make sure his soldiers would not retreat he burned all of his ships

15. Hernan Cortes
The Aztecs had large amounts of gold, precious gems and silver
Moctezuma gave treasure to Cortes, but it wasn’t enough
Cortes took Moctezuma captive
Moctezuma was killed when fighting broke out and Cortes fled the city after a defeat in June 1520
In May 1521 he attacked again after almost a year of planning
He defeated the Aztecs with help from local tribes and built present day Mexico City on top of the ruins

16. Hernan Cortes
By 1600 Spain controlled much of North and South America