1. Assess the validity of this statement.
“Economic concerns had more to do with settling the ‘New World’ than religious concerns”
Assess the validity of this statement.

2. The Age of Exploration 1400s to 1700s

3. Should we continue to celebrate Columbus Day?

4. Historiography: The study of how historians study history.
The history of history.
Case in point:
Two documents: Columbus & de las Casas

5. Document A: What is Columbus’ impression of the Native Americans?
Utilizing the Native Labor Force, Christopher  Columbus, 1492
Sunday, 14th of October
...these people are very simple as regards the use of arms, as your Highnesses will see from the seven that I caused to be taken, to bring home and learn our language and return; unless your Highnesses should order them all to be brought to Castile, or to be kept as captives on the same island; for with fifty men they can all be subjugated and made to do what is required of them....
Sunday, 16th of December
...your Highnesses may believe that this island (Hispaniola), and all the others, are as much yours as Castile. Here there is only wanting a settlement and the order to the people to do what is required. For I, with the force I have under me, which is not large, could march over all these islands without opposition. I have seen only three sailors land, without wishing to do harm, and a multitude of Indians fled before them. They have no arms, and are without warlike instincts; they all go naked, and are so timid that a thousand would not stand before three of our men. So that they are good to be ordered about, to work and sow, and do all that may be necessary, and to build towns, and they should be taught to go about clothed and to adopt our customs.
"Journal of the First Voyage of Christopher Columbus, ," in E.G. Bourne, The Northmen, Columbus and Cabot, (New York, 1906), 114, , 182

6. Document B: What is de las Casas impression of discovery
Document B: What is de las Casas impression of discovery? How does it differ from Columbus’? Why might it differ?
The Black Legend, Bartolomé  de las Casas, 1542
New Spain [Mexico] was discovered in 1517 and, at the time, great atrocities were committed against the indigenous people of the region and some were killed by members of the expedition. In 1518 the so-called Christians set about stealing from the people and murdering them on the pretence of settling the area. And from that year until this--and it is now the great iniquities and injustices, the outrageous acts of violence and the bloody tyranny of these Christians have steadily escalated, the perpetrators having lost all fear of God, all love of their sovereign, and all sense of self-respect. Even now, in September 1542, the atrocities get worse by the day, it being the case, as we have said, that the infernal brutality and utter inhumanity of the acts committed have readily increased as time has gone on.

7. Historiography: The study of how historians study history.
The history of history.
Case in point:
Textbook review…Kyle Ward: History in the Making

8. Kyle Ward on Columbus
Read each excerpt and evaluate tone, attitude, language, opinion and use of words? Mark it up!
What patterns emerge as you read?
How does the time period in which the document was written influence what was said about Columbus?
What might be the problems with analyzing the importance of Columbus? Of history?

9. Age of Exploration 1400s to 1700s

10. The World According to a Computer Person… ha ha ha…this is a joke…

11. The Age of Exploration Advancing Sailing Technologies
Europeans gained much of their nautical knowledge from Arabs, like:
Portolani
Nautical maps of coastlines, distances
Drawn on flat scale, no help overseas
Compass
Showed bearing of ship’s course
Astrolabe
Used the sun or a star to find latitude
Lateen Sails
Triangular sails allow for increased maneuverability
Caravels
Maneuverable ships that could hold heavy cannon & large cargo
All combined to allow for greater sailing accuracy over greater distances

12. Motives… Forces Behind European Exploration
God (Religious Motivations)
Missionaries: spread word of Christ
Many other religions seen as “savage”
Increase power of Catholic Church
Glory (Personal Motivations)
Spirit of adventure, natural curiosity (Marco Polo)
Individual claim to fame (fortune?)
Power of Kings and Queens, empire
Gold (Economic Motivations)
European interests in Asia…new / quicker trade routes
Spices, silk, tea, porcelain = $$$
Rise of Ottomans restricted Silk Road
Could eliminate “middle man” by sea
Hope of discovering precious metals
Economic theory of Mercantilism
Emerging notion Euro. supremacy
Effects of Renaissance on Exploration?

13. Marco Polo
Traveled to China [court of Kublai Khan] and brought back stories and goods to Europe

14. Vasco da Gama
Discovered an all-water route from Europe to India

15. Christopher Columbus
Accidentally found America while looking for a westward route to Asia
His voyages considered a turning point in history

16. Ferdinand Magellan
First person credited with circumnavigating the world

17. Hernando Cortes
Conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico in 1519

18. Francisco Pizarro
Conquered the Inca Empire in Peru in 1833

19. List positive & negative effects of the Age of Exploration

20. Effects: Negative or Positive?
European powers built extensive overseas empires
Economic self-sufficiency lost
Destroyed traditional patterns of trade
Large numbers of Europeans moved to Americas
People with common backgrounds separated
Cash crop overemphasized
Native American crops (corn, potato, tomato) brought to Europe
Capitalism expanded with growth of trade
Promoted racism
Cultural exchanges occurred; ideas shared[cultural diffusion]
Natural resources exploited
Middle class grows
Native American civilizations severely damaged by diseases
Demand for African slaves increased
Economic growth leads to improved living standards for some

21. Specifics….

22. Effects upon the Atlantic World
Native American population
90% die of diseases in first 100 yrs.
Small pox, typhus, measles…
Estimates differ. Most agree 3-10 million (Berkin 24)
African population
Slave Coast
9.5 million enslaved arrive in “New World” over 300 yrs.
10-20 die in Middle Passage (Berkin 27)
European population
Population growth
Middle class grows vs. absolute monarchs
Birth of Protestant Reformation
Challenges divine right

24. Effects felt upon Africa
Encouraged African warfare
tribes went to war with other tribes to obtain slaves to trade for guns
Disrupted African culture
it created a legacy of violence, bitterness and social upheaval
Increased cultural diffusion
Slaves brought their songs and culture to New World
Prejudice against Africans

28. Other Related Effects upon the Atlantic World: The Columbian Exchange

29. Other Related Effects upon the Atlantic World
The Theory of Mercantilism
Economic principles of the 1600s focused around a nation’s prosperity
Rise of centralized nation-states
Measured by supply of gold & silver
Gained thru favorable balance of trade
Export more than you import
Policies of European Rulers
Discourage import of foreign goods
high taxes on imports (tariffs)
Encourage export of manufactures
Protect favorable trading monopolies
Accept pay in gold
Establish & Protect Colonies
Source of raw materials, gold, & silver
Effects of Mercantilism
European abuses in Americas, Africa
National rivalries based on trade, war

30. Other Related Effects upon the World: Imperialism
Domination by one country over the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or region

34. Causes of Imperialism Economic Social Political
Need for raw materials created by Industrial Revolution
Desire for place to invest excess capital
Drive to spread Christianity [White Man’s Burden]
Rule by strongest and fittest- need to spread superior culture [Social Darwinism]
Desire for great power status
Competitive drive to gain control of an area (for military) before a rival could do so

35. Positive Effects of Imperialism
Built roads, railroads, and bridges
Education improved
Improved medical care
Food supply increased
Brought stability and unification to some areas
Created industries, improved standard of living

38. Assess the validity of this statement.
“Economic concerns had more to do with settling the ‘New World’ than religious concerns”
Assess the validity of this statement.

39. Should we continue to celebrate Columbus Day?