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The Atlantic World. Chapter Four 1300s-1800s. The Age of Exploration. What was the Age of Exploration? A time period when Europeans began to explore the rest of the world How was this possible? Improvements in mapmaking, shipbuilding, rigging, and navigation made long voyages possible
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The Atlantic World Chapter Four 1300s-1800s
The Age of Exploration • What was the Age of Exploration? • A time period when Europeans began to explore the rest of the world • How was this possible? • Improvements in mapmaking, shipbuilding, rigging, and navigation made long voyages possible • Why do European countries explore? • Policy of mercantilism drives exploration • Finding new trade routes and trading “partners” were paramount
What is mercantilism? • Policy that stated there was a limited amount of money (gold and silver) in the world • Each country needed to grab what they can before it is gone • Export more than you import in order to create a favorable balance of trade • Colonies and markets were needed to keep everything in the system
Why did explorers explore? • Many reasons • Some reasons include: • To find a sea route to the spices of Asia • To find gold, silver, and precious stones • To expand their knowledge of the world • To control a larger empire • To expand Christianity • To find animal furs • “Gold, God, and Glory!”
The Explorers • Portugal • Vasco de Gama • Landed in India in 1498 • Established an important trade route from Europe to India and the East Indies • Ferdinand Magellan • His crew completed the first circumnavigation of the world in 1525 • Magellan was killed in the Philippines
The Explorers • Spain • Christopher Columbus • Believed he could reach the Indies faster by traveling west…found North America instead • Established the Columbian Exchange • A massive exchange of goods, plants, animals and diseases • Exchange between New and Old Worlds
The Struggle over the New World • European countries fought for control of the New World and its natural resources • New World provided for opportunities for great wealth • Colonizing European powers: • France • England • Spain • Portugal
Struggle Turns to Conflict • England wanted more land in the New World • First defeated the Dutch • Dispute over lands in the Ohio Valley led to a war in 1754 • This began the Seven Years’ War with France • The battle in the New World was known as the French an Indian War
The Conquistadors • Spain • Hernan Cortes in Mexico • Able to defeat the mighty Aztec Empire • Used superior weapons, allies, and disease • 96% of the Aztec population died from 1500-1620 • From 25 million to less than 1 million
Cortes and the Aztecs • Montezuma believed that Cortes was a god • Invaded Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1520 • Was aided by Malinche a native woman translator
The Conquistadors • Francisco Pizzaro in Peru • Arrived in South America in 1532 • Defeated the Incan Empire (80,000 soldiers) • Ambushed and kidnapped the Incan ruler • Received a ransom then strangled and killed him anyway
Pizzaro and the Inca • Incan ruler was Atahualpa • Spanish ambushed unarmed Incan soldiers and captured Atahualpa • Pizarro was offered a room full of gold and silver, which he accepted • The Spanish then strangled Atahualpa
Europeans in North America • 1524 - Italian Giovanni de Verrazano discovered New York Harbor • 1607 -The English settle Jamestown in Virginia • England’s 1st permanent settlement • 1608 - Frenchman Samuel de Champlain founded “New France” • Today it is Quebec • 1609 - Henry Hudson finds the “Hudson River” • Claims Manhattan Island for the Dutch
The Atlantic Slave Trade • Europeans needed slave labor in their colonies to grow crops, mine, etc. • Native Americans were used, but many died due to disease • Death rate due to disease was extremely high • Africans replaced the Natives as the main source of slave labor for the Europeans • Completely changed the trade relationship between Europe and Africa
The Atlantic Slave Trade Timeline • 1500-1600s • Spain and Portugal began the trade • 1600-1700s • Slave Trade grows dramatically • 1690 • England increases the Slave Trade • 1870 • The Atlantic Slave Trade ends
Atlantic Slave Trade Effects • Begins a system of “Triangular Trade” • Africa, Europe, and Americas all participate • African rulers and traders made deals with Europeans for slaves • Introduction of guns into African continent • Western African economy and empires crumbled • Slaves are transported through the “Middle Passage”
The Middle Passage • The Slave Ships • The captain could be a “tight” or “loose” packer • “Tight” meant slaves would be placed lying on each other • Typically 20 percent or more Africans would die on the way to the New World • Disease, malnutrition, beatings, suicide • Once in the New World • Slaves were auctioned of to the highest bidder • This could easily separate families • Slavery was a life-long condition, as well as hereditary
Slavery in the New World • Slave Resistance • Slaves tried to keep their cultural heritage • Musical traditions • Ancestral stories • Slave Rebellion • Often broke tools or worked slowly • Many ran away • Numerous revolts throughout the years
The Growth of Global Trade • Economic systems of Europe drastically changed • Colonial empires that stretched through multiple continents led to a new business and trade practices • Capitalism • Joint-Stock Companies
What is Capitalism? • Economic system based on private ownership and the investment of resources, such as money, for profit • Economic system where things are owned by people or an individual, not by a government • Profits allow individuals and businesses to become extremely wealthy, not just the government
What is a Joint-Stock Company? • A business in which a number of investors combine their wealth for a common purpose • Very similar to a modern-day corporation • Early on in the 1500-1600s the purpose was colonization • Overseas colonies were very expensive, but could be very profitable
Changes in European Society • Exploration and colonization led to an economic growth and boom in Europe • Spurred the growth of towns and cities • Rise of the merchant class with great wealth • European nations became very wealthy • Power monarchs increased greatly • Majority of Europeans still remained poor and rural • THE END