1. When Worlds Collide 1492-1590

2.  Reconquista- centuries long struggle by the Spanish to defeat the Muslims  During the Reconquista the Spanish became very good at conquest and plundering  1492- Christopher Columbus led an expedition westward looking for a shorter route to Asia

3.  Columbus’s goal was to expand the power of the Spanish Empire  He explored parts of Cuba and Hispaniola and reported back on his discovery  Soon many larger expeditions were sent to the Americas

4.  Columbus’s successors established the Encomienda system which forced the natives into slave labor  Reports of gold led the Spanish to explore parts of North and Central America  Hernando Cortes defeated the Aztecs in 1519

5. Peninsular Creoles Mestizos Native Americans Slaves

6.  The Spanish were easily able to defeat the Native Americans because of superior weapons and diseases  Spanish were criticized for the treatment of the Native Americans  Some estimate that over 20 million Native Americans died as a result of the Spanish conquest

8.  Ponce de Leon- was the first Spanish conquistador to extend his power into North America by exploring modern day Florida.  Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)- treaty dividing the America’s between Spain and Portugal  Spain dominated central and South America

9.  John Cabot- was the 1 st successful explorer in N. America and reached Labrador in 1497.  Capt. Cartier tried to locate a Northwest Passage which eventually allowed the French to lay claim to the lands in Canada

10.  Beginning in the 16 th Century the fur trade played a huge role in the economy of N. America for three centuries  Fur Trade led to competition among the Native American tribes and warfare broke out over hunting grounds.

11.  Huguenots were the leaders behind the first French attempt to establish colonies in N. America  English settlements were driven primarily by economic motives  Francis Drake (England)- began launching raids against the Spanish in the New World

12.  The Spanish opened up the exploration of the America’s with Columbus’s voyage  Natives suffered disastrous consequences  Spain, England, France and Portugal all began competing for colonies.