Age of Exploration and Discovery

1. Age of Exploration and Discovery World History Mr. Fisher

2. AGE OF EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY: • Definition: • A period of European history where Europeans ended their period of isolation and looked outward for economic, cultural, and political reasons • Motives: • Cut out the middle man – decreasing the price of goods (Egyptians, Syrians, Turkish) • Nationalism – “I’m the first to…” or “We are the first to…” • The “Unknown” • Portuguese Pioneers: (Why Portugal?) • Leaders of exploration • Henry the Navigator: (mostly West Africa) • Patron of the explorers to help build maps • Bartolomeu Dias • Proved that the west coast of Africa could be navigated • Vasco de Gama: • Led excursion to India and created trading treaties with Indians • Ferdinand Magellan – first individual to circumnavigate the globe • Spanish Explorers: • Spurred by the success of Portuguese explorers • Christopher Columbus (Getting to the “East” by sailing west) • Understood that the Earth is spherical • Issues – size of the Earth and two continents in his way • Landed probably in present day Bahamas • AMERIGO Vespucci – helped name the “Americas” • Vasco Nunez de Balboa – “hacked” a passage through Panama – quicker route to Asia • English: • John Cabot – try to find a more “Northern” route than Columbus • Netherlands: (Same motives) • Henry Hudson – Explored Hudson River to find a quicker route to Asia • Review EVERYONE WANTS TO FIND A QUICKER ROUTE HERE!!!

3. Spanish conquistadors (conquerors) • Why did the conquistadors easily defeat the early American civilizations? • Hernan Cortez: (Spanish) • Defeat of Aztecs (South Mexico) • Aztecs believed that Cortez was the coming of their God (Quetzalcoatl) • Results: • Spain controls Mexico and Central America • Creation of Mexico City • Francisco Pizarro: (Spanish) • Take over of the Incan Empire (Central-west South America) • Used the same techniques for victory • Results: • Spanish control most of South America • Reasons for victory: (Journal Entry - Pg. 396) • Superior technology • Horses, guns, cannon • Allied with Aztec and Incan enemies • Disease (sacrifice more?) • End of the world? • “Let us die, then, for our gods are already gone” • Thought Europeans were Gods • Lasting impact: • Language – Spanish • Religion – Roman Catholic • Introduction of horses, apples, and wheat PORT  FORT  COURT Conquest in the Americas

4. Ruling the Spanish Empire • How did the Spanish set about ruling and maintaining order in their empire? • Political • Set up colonial court systems with viceroys (representatives) • Cultural (Why would you want to convert people to your culture?) • Catholic Church • Conversions helped “lessen” the takeover • Introduction of Spanish language, carpentry, and locksmith • Economical • Export ONLY to Spain and import ONLY from Spain • Gold, silver, sugar cane • King issues encomiendas (allows the use of slave labor) to increase profits on plantations • Bartolome de las Casas disapproves of slave labor  decline native slave labor • Results in African slave trade • Immune to disease, skills in farming, mining, and metalworking • New social classes (Pg. 399 – create social hierarchy) • Based on race • Peninsulares – Spanish born people • Held the most highest government and Church positions • Creoles – American-born descendants of Spanish • Plantations, ranch, and mine owners • Mestizos: • Native American and European descent • Mulattoes: • African and European descent • Major Results of Empire-Building • Commercial Revolution • Increase trade/colonies in other parts of the Americas Remaking the Americas

5. How did the New France and New England society differ from New Spain? • Other European countries expanding to compete with Spanish Empire • The Disappointmentof U.S. and Canada • Lack of gold and passage to Asia • New France – Canada: (All this land, what do we do with it?) • Economy: • Attracted by the fishing industries • Harsh climates prohibited farming • Resulted in the fur and trapping industries • Political: • King Louis XIV encouraged settling of New World (increase in tax revenue) • The 13 English Colonies: • Started mostly by “separatists” • People leaving England to seek religious freedom • First permanent colony in Jamestown, Virginia • Economy: • Aided by the Native Americans • Production of crops and tobacco • Plymouth Rock (Massachusetts) (Video Questions) • Political: • Pilgrims (Protestants) created the Mayflower Compact • Colonists first attempt at self-government • Creation of representative governments (differed from New Spain) • Results • Increase competition among European countries • Ex. French and Indian War (Seven Years War) • Caused by expanding country boundaries in Americas • France succeeds land east of Mississippi (Treaty of Paris) Fight for North America

6. Which country started the Age of Exploration? • Where did they go? • Portugal  Western Africa  India • Other European countries followed Portugal • Slave Labor: • Most traded “good” in Africa • Ivory and diamonds • Used to fill void in American colonies • Untapped resources needed labor • Forced into “floating coffins” • Triangular Trade • Middle Passage: • Part of triangle dealing with slaves going to Americas • Results: • European culture infused into African culture • Language(European languages, Arabic) • Religion (Islam and Christianity) • Conflict between Afrikaners and Europeans • Ex. Boer War • Battle between the British and the Natives • Extermination of African population • Estimated 14 million taken for slave trade • Revolting African people • Ex. Amistad Slave Trade

7. What major changes occurred as a result of European exploration? • Columbian Exchange • The increase in global markets (Europe, Africa, Asia, Americas) • Exchange of goods and services from the New World to Europe and vice versa • More food, more population • Increase in migration • Commercial Revolution • Experienced inflation • General rise in the price of goods • Causes: • Population • More people, more demand, less supply • Gold and silver • More money, more demand, less supply • Dev’l of Capitalism: • Private ownership of the means of production • Creation of goods and services to make a profit • Entrepreneurs willing to take risks to make profit • Mercantilism • Government control of trade to ensure country’s prosperity Changes in Europe