Download
1 / 11
110 likes | 268 Views
Unit 9: Exploration & Transatlantic Trade. Chapters 16, 19 & 20. Exploration & Expansion. The beginning of civilizations in the Americas began in an area called Mesoamerica The area stretches south from central Mexico into Central America
E N D
Unit 9: Exploration & Transatlantic Trade Chapters 16, 19 & 20
Exploration & Expansion • The beginning of civilizations in the Americas began in an area called Mesoamerica • The area stretches south from central Mexico into Central America • Ancient empires flourished there until European explorers arrived
European Explorers in Americas • The explorers’ motives : “ God, Glory, & Gold” • God • Catholic missionaries helped Europeans take over the New World (Americas) by converting the natives to Catholicism • Gold • They brought back spices used to preserve & flavor food, and precious metals • Made a lot of money through trade of these goods • Glory • They wanted the glory of discovering new lands, new products and going on exciting adventures • Sense of national pride
Portuguese Trading Empire • They are leaders in exploration along West Africa • Gold is discovered • They nicknamed it “The Gold Coast” • VascaDa Gama – sailed around Cape of Good Hope (tip of Africa) • Result = new source of spice trade • Italian Amerigo Vespucci was hired to explore • He realized new lands discovered (now Americas) were not part of Asia • Portuguese mapmaker names the lands “America” after “Amerigo”
Spanish Exploration • Voyages to America – Spanish were seeking a shorter route to India (Asia) by sailing westward • They hired Columbus to find it • 1492 – he reaches Cuban coastline believing it to be Asia • Later voyages reach Caribbean Islands & Central America. He calls the area “Indies” • Like educated Europeans, he realized world was round, but underestimated circumference and size
Spanish Empire • Conquistadors (explorers – claimed New World (Americas) for Spain • Aztecs accept the Spanish thinking they are representatives of Quetzalcoatl (one of their gods) • Cortes overtakes Aztec empire • Pizarro conquers Incan empire, located in the mountains of Peru • Spanish spread smallpox, measles, typhus • Millions of Amerindians are killed by Spanish
Economic Impact & Competition • Economic Impact & Competition – search for Gold and Silver • Created colonies • Lands controlled by another country • settlements linked to a parent country by trade & government • Mercantilism • An economic set of principles that dominated in 17th Century • Said a nation’s prosperity depended on the amount of gold & silver (called bullion) secured & a favorable balance of trade • Balance of Trade • difference between imports & exports • Favorable BofT is when you export more than you import
Africa in Transition • Slave trade - demand for slaves increased with growing sugarcane plantations in the Americas • Triangular Trade: 1. European goods (guns and textiles) to Africa 2. African slaves to America 3. American tobacco, molasses, sugar, cotton to Europe
Middle Passage • Part II of Triangular Trade – slaves being taken to Americas • Deadly, disease-ridden journey to America. Africans had little or no immunity to disease, many died on the way
Ferdinand Magellan • First explorer to circumnavigate the globe • Although he died before the journey was complete, the ships he commanded made it all the way around
Questions removed from Final • You do not have to answer the following question. I received the revised Final, and this question was removed: • What is a “gunpowder empire?”
