1. Columbus and the Spanish
6th Right Page:

2. Review Why did the Europeans Explore?
God = spread Christianity to get salvation
Glory = wanted to be great/powerful nations/kings (Greeks and Romans)
Gold = Asian goods (crusades during the Middle Ages)
Portuguese and Spanish discoveries
Route to Asia (because of Marco Polo and the Muslim control of the Middle East)
Renaissance: technology/science/education

3. Question #1 Who was Columbus and what did he do?
Italian sea captain who wanted to find a new route to Asia
Convinced King and Queen of Spain to pay for it!
“Discovered” the West Indies (America)
Started the first colony
Began the Columbian Exchange
First Conquistador
He thought he had found Asia

4. Question 2 Why was the discovery important?
Started the Columbian Exchange:
Led to the death of 90% of the Native Americans (disease)
Led to the spread of Christianity
Mixed and new cultures
New crops for Europe
Cash crops led to plantations
Spain becomes most powerful country in the world.
Turning Point in World History (nothing will be the same again) leads to
Colonization
Helped lead to African slavery

5. Questions 3, 4, and 5 Who were the Conquistadors? What did they do?
Cortes (Mexico – defeated Aztecs)
Pizarro (South America – defeated the Incas)
De Soto – took over Florida
Coronado – Arizona/New Mexico and into California
Explorers:
Ponce de Leon – (Florida) looked for the Fountain of Youth
Balboa – Panama and Pacific Ocean
Magellan – circumnavigated the globe
Ameirgo Vespuci – mapped the Americas

6. Question #6
What were the results of the Spanish control of America?
Spanish Colonies: Peru (Western South America) and New Spain (Mexico and north) + Caribbean Islands
Trade with new territories, Africa, Asia, and Europe
Strict Social Classes:
Peninsulares – Spanish Born land owners
Creoles – children of the Peninsulares
Mestizos – mixed Spanish and Native
Natives
Slaves
African Slavery – Natives got sick and they needed workers on plantations
Africans had immunity to European diseases.