1. The Beginnings of Our Global Age: Europe & the Americas

2. Lands that he reached would later be called the West Indies
Christopher Columbus
Wanted to reach East Indies
Spain’s Ferdinand & Isabella financed him
August 3, 1492 sailed west
October 12, 1492 spotted land
Lands that he reached would later be called the West Indies

4. Conquest in the Americas
The Spanish had weapons (guns and cannons), armor, horses, and disease. The Spanish brought smallpox, measles, and influenza.
Millions died.
Conquistadors: Spanish conquerors Spanish conquistadors soon followed Cortez conquered Aztecs Pizarro conquered Incas in Peru
Spain appointed viceroys, representatives who ruled in kings name
Spanish granted the conquistadors encomiendas, the right to demand labor or tribute from the Natives

5. Pilgrims were English Protestants
The English Colonies
1st English settlement was at Jamestown, Virginia in Many died from disease and starvation.
In 1620, Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Pilgrims came for religious freedom
The colonies began growing as the colonists started new industries and cultivated new crops to trade with those in England.
English colonists were overseen by royal governors, though they did have some freedoms. American colonists did begin to protest British policies.
Pilgrims were English Protestants

6. Like around the world, slavery existed in Africa since ancient times
The Slave Trade
Like around the world, slavery existed in Africa since ancient times
(Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, Indians, Aztecs, etc. enslaved defeated enemies).
1500s & 1600s, to Europeans, slaves were most important part of African trade
Europeans wanted slaves to work their plantations in the New World
Europeans rarely went into Africa’s interior
Relied on African traders
Slave comes from Slavs

7. The Atlantic Slave Trade
Goods from America, furs, sugar, molasses, cotton, and rum were shipped to Europe.
Europe
Goods (guns, cloth, cash) brought to Africa, traded for slaves 3 1
North America
Africa
Middle Passage, the slaves were taken to America and traded for products. 2

8. Atlantic Slave Trade

9. Horrors of the Middle Passage
Men, women, and children were bound with chains and ropes. Many died along the way, many tried to escape.
Many died from disease. It could be dysentery, smallpox, and in many cases enslaved Africans died from committing suicide.
About 2 million Africans died in passage to the Americas

10. Effects of Global Contact
Began European domination of the world
Columbian Exchange- Global exchange of goods, ideas, plants, & animals (started with Columbus)
New to Europe
Corn, Potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers
New to Americas
Wheat, grapes, bananas, sugarcane
Cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, horses, and donkeys
Lead to huge population growth around the world

12. A Commercial Revolution
1500s, prices began to rise around Europe & there was much more money in circulation
Inflation
Inflation was fueled by enormous amounts of silver & gold flowing into Europe from the Americas
Trade, increased money supply, & push for overseas empire spurred growth of European capitalism
Capitalism: an economic system in which most businesses are owned privately