European Exploration

The Renaissance Transformed Europe….

During the 15th and 16th centuries,

• Europeans began to explore the unknown and claim and conquer new territories previously unknown.

• Why then?

• Why at all?

The Vikings…

• And other individuals had done it, but why now a systematic, organized movement?

Effect: Europeans

began exploring

Effect:

Europeans began

exploring

Portugal Takes Lead

• Portuguese ships had sailed along African coast, trading for gold, salt, ivory and slaves

• Prince Henry the Navigator built schools for ship design, sailing, and navigation

Prince Henry

• Goals• Drive Muslims out of

Africa; aid Prester John

• Take control of slave trade

• Secure trade routes to Asia

First to Reach Tip

• Portuguese captain Bartolomeu Dias first to reach Cape of Good Hope 1488

• Vasco Da Gama rounded Cape and made it to India 1498

• Portugal dominated African routes

Christopher Columbus

• Italian, devised plan to sail West to reach Asia• Spain's Ferdinand & Isabella became patrons• “Discovered” the “Indies” 1492• Subsequent voyages inspired others

Spanish-Portuguese Rivalry

• Columbus claims Indies for Spain• Treaty of Tordesillas draws line of demarcation between

Spain and Portugal in New World -1493• Pedro Cabral claims Brazil for Portugal• Magellan’s crew circumnavigates world for Spain• Amerigo Vespucci sails New World for Portugal

Portugal

• Develops African trade routes

• Assumes control of African slave trade

• Developed Brazil sugar plantations

Establish Triangular Trade Routes and Middle Passage

Spanish and Others Began Exploring New World

Conquistadors’ Quest for 3 Gs

Balboa

• Claims Pacific for Spain 1513

Ponce De Leon

• Landed in Florida 1513• Founded St. Augustine• Fountain of Youth???

Hernando Cortes

• Conquered Aztecs • And overthrew

Montezuma with couple of hundred men in 1519

• How???

Francisco Pizarro

• Overthrew Atahualpa and conquered Incas 1531-33

• How???

DeSoto 1539-42

Francisco Coronado 1540-42

Columbian Exchange

Impact of Spanish Exploration

• Introduction of horses, cows, sheep, pigs, etc

• Columbian Exchange• Missions established for “education” of

Indians• Encomienda system established to

enslave Indians• African slavery expanded when Indian

slavery failed

Impact continued

• Spanish language and culture dominate American southwest

• Mestizo population develops

• Spain becomes richest country in world due to stolen gold, metals and jewels

• Millions of Indians die

• Aztec and Inca civilizations destroyed

• Spanish “Black Legend”

Salvador Dali’s “Discovery of America”