early Exploration and Colonization

The Age of Exploration

1400-1600

The earliest explorers: The Vikings

Around 1000AD (500 yearsBEFORE Christopher Columbus)the Vikings came to America

European countries the explorers sailed for…

-Portugal-Spain-France-England-Netherlands

Reasons behind the First Routes of Exploration

oThe Portuguese yearned to find a sea route to India and China…

oThey, and other Europeans, wanted to avoid the Arab “middlemen” traders who controlled trade between the East (Asia) and West (Europe)

oThese middlemen traders kept prices of pepper and other spices high by keeping supplies low

The theory of supply and demand!

Henry the Navigator

The Prince of Portugal

Wanted to explore in order to bring

Portugal…

More Trade Power & InfluenceSpread Christianity

Bartholomeu Dias

•First European to round the tip of Africa

•Sailed for Portugal

Vasco da GamaoContinued on past the southern tip of Africa using Dias’ original route

oSailed on to India

oCompleted an eastern sea route from Europe to Asia

oEstablished a European port in India for trade

Christopher ColumbusSailed for SpainThought he could

find a quicker route to Asia

Instead of sailing east to get to Asia, he would sail west!

He figured that because the earth was round he would reach Asia this way

Ferdinand Magellan

•Magellan was determined to circumnavigate the globe

•He set out to accomplish Columbus’ original goal: to reach China and the rest of Asia by sailing West

Magellan’s Voyage

Map of Early Explorers

Spanish Conquest

From 1492 onward, Spanish conquistadores conquered and ruled Latin America. From then on the political

leaders tended to be strong men, often military leaders. Spain turned Latin America into colonies of the Spanish

Empire.

What is a ConquistadorSpanishConqueror of empires and lands

Interested in wealth and fame (gold and glory)

Established Spanish Empire in the New World (North and South America)

Guns, Germs, and Steel• Disease (small pox)• Leaders were taken captive by the

Spanish• Emperors (Montezuma and

Atahualpa) never ordered an attack by their armies on the Spanish

• Better weapons and resources for the Spanish (guns and horses)

• Incas were in the middle of a civil war

• Aztecs invited the Spanish to their cities and gave them gold (only made the Spanish want more!)

The Results 1. Spain and Portugal controlled

all of Latin America.- Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) : Spain

controlled all of the Americas except Brazil.

2. European influence spread throughout Latin America.

- Spanish became the dominant language.- Catholicism became the dominant

religion.

3. The Indian population died of disease.

Treaty of Tordesillas