Lecture Objective *

• To understand the following:

a) European society on the eve of colonization

b) The impact religion had on European

society.

• The factors that made colonization possible.

• The impact colonization had on native

societies.

Western European Society, 11th -

14th century (before Columbus)

• An agriculture society

a) most were peasant farmers

• Men: fieldwork

• Women: a) child care b) food preparation c) no

inheritance or divorce

• Feudal society (hundreds of small territories)

a) Lords ruled territories

1) Demanded peasant labor and tribute in crops

Tres Riches

Heures, 15th

century

Lords accumulated great

wealth and power.

a) Lived in impressive castles

b) Peasants worked their

lands

Technological Breakthroughs

(11th -14th century)

• Water mills, iron plows, and improved

devices for harnessing ox

• Impact

a) Increased food productivity

b) Population almost tripled

b) Economy stimulated

Living Conditions for Most

Europeans

• Food sources for peasants:

a) bread

b) seasonal vegetables

• 1/3 children died by age 5

• ½ of population reached adulthood

• Black Death (1347-53): over ¼ of pop. died

Religion

• Roman Catholic Church

a) Hierarchy

1) pope-parish priest

b) Social hierarchy also justified

c) Most powerful landowner

• Actively persecuted

a) Non-believers and pagan followers

Merchant Class and Economic

Growth

• Economic growth resulted in commercial

expansion

• Impact

a) Growth markets and towns

• Commercial centers

a) Venice, Genoa, and Pisa

Merchants and Military

Expeditions

• Merchants supported the Crusades (end 11th

century)

• After the Crusades, Asian trade routes

a) Controlled by Italian merchants

• During Crusades: Contact with ancient texts

a) Impact: Renaissance (14th-16th)

Renaissance and Exploration

• Humanism celebrated:

a) Human possibility

b) Was human-centered

• Impact

a) Motivation to explore

Monarchies Gained Control

• Why nobles weakened?

a) Disease led to violence

b) Peasant rebellions

c) Warfare among nobles

• Monarchs gain power

a) Domestic order

b) Est. armies and navies

c) Had merchant support (trade increased)

Prince Henry The Navigator: Key

Role in Explorations

• Established institute of shipbuilders,

geographers, and instrument makers

• Where: Sagres, Portugal

• Innovations

a) The Caravel (new ship)

1) Incorporated Muslim/Asian ideas

An astrolabe,

13th century by

a Syrian

craftsman

Impact: Portuguese Explorations

• Trading forts

a) coasts of Africa

b) India

c) China

• Est. Atlantic slave trade

Columbus Reaches the Americas

• Financial support for explorations

a) Monarchs: Isabel and Ferdinand

1) Why?: Monarchs eager for new lands

• Columbus leaves Palos, Spain (Aug. 1492)

a) Landed in Bahamas on Oct. 1492

1) Vessels: La Nina, La Pinta, and La Santa Maria

La Nina

Incorporated

Arab and

Asian

designs

Columbus’ Voyage

Spanish in the Americas

• Colonization (early stages)

a) Extremely violent for native men and

women

• Puerto Rico and Jamaica invaded (1508)

• Cuba invaded (1511)

• Central America (1511)

Hernan Cortes and the Aztec

Empire

• Aztecs overthrown (1521)

• Why Aztecs defeated?

a) Disease (smallpox)

1) Biggest factor, undermined Aztecs’ ability

to resist Cortes.

b) Spaniards had superior weapons

c) Indian alliances

Florentine Codex (smallpox

victim)

Tenochititlan by Albrecht Durer

Impact on Native Societies

• Why the decline of native populations?

a) Spread of diseases in virgin soil (smallpox,

measles, and influenza)

b) Warfare

c) Famine

d) Birth rates down

Native Control

• Control of natives

a) Small minority

1) Europeans and their offspring

b) Forced labor

Other Explorers

• Alvares Nunez Cabeza de Vaca

• Golden cities (rumor)

• Francisco Vasques de Coronado

1) Searches golden cities

Destruction of the Indies by Bartolome de las

Casas, 1599 ed.

Europeans in the New World

• Late 1500s

a) European immigrants in New World

1) Mostly Spaniards

• 10% European women

• Male colonists: cohabited w/native women

• By 1600 Africans brought to New World

a) 125,000 (Caribbean and Brazil)

The Spanish in North America

• Ponce de Leon

a) Lands in Florida (1513)

1) De Leon killed in 1521

• Hernan de Soto

a) Lands in Florida (1539)

1) Impact: spread of diseases to Natives

French Explore North America

• Who: Giovanni da Verrazana

• When: 1524, Where: North American Coast

• Impact:

a) Jacques Cartier explores St. Lawrence

River

1) French imperial claim of Canada

The French in the New World

• Fur trade (began 16th cent.)

• Native and French relationships:

a) commerce

a) Natives received: glass, ironware, textiles,

and glass, firearms, and metal knives

b) French gained: fur

Fur Trade (negative impact)

• Disease

• Warfare

a) Among tribes

1) Why: fur hunting grounds

• Natives

a) Dependency on Europeon goods

Friendly relations between French

and Timucuas, watercolor, 1564

The Protestant Reformation (revolt

against Roman Catholic Church)

• Martin Luther

a) Revolted against Church (1517)

• John Calvin (Luther’s follower)

a) Very influential

• Huguenots (French Protestants)

a) Calvin’s followers

First French Colonies In North

America

• 1st colony established in 1562

a) Who: Jean Ribault and 150 Huguenots

1) Goal: religious refuge

b) Where: Beaufort, South Carolina

• Second colony (1564)

a) Fort Caroline

1) St. Johns River (Florida)

The French land at the mouth of

the St. Johns River

England 16th Century (Change in

Economy)

• Prices of goods rose

a) Landlords needed more profits

b) solution: engage in woolen trade

1) Impact: sheep grazing displaced farmers

Protestant Reformation (England)

• Began with King Henry VIII (1509-47)

a) Why?: His marriage not annulled by pope

• King Henry VIII’s reaction

a) Supports Protestant Reformation

b) Established

1) Navy and army

Monarchy and Religion

(England)

• Edward IV (1547-1553): Protestant

• Mary I (1553-1558): Catholic and married

to Phillip II of Spain

• Elizabeth (1558-1603): moderate Protestant

a) Phillip II vowed to overthrow Elizabeth

Ireland: First English Colony

• Elizabeth’s goal was to subdue the Irish

• 1560’s Walter Raleigh and Humphrey

Gilbert

a) Attacked Irish (Catholic)

1) English farmers placed on Irish land

b) Impact: Irish dislocated and their land

taken

Irish Resistance

• Resisted occupation

• Emergence of

a) “wild/savage Irish”

• Seen as inferior

• Irish experiences carried/used

a) New World

Phillip II’s Reaction

• Smash England (1588)

• Spanish Armada

a) 130 ships

b) 30,000 men

• Why was England victorious?

a) smaller/maneuverable ships

b) ill-timed storm complicated Spain’s efforts

Columbian Exchange: Impact on

New World and Old World

• Exchange of foods, animals, diseases, crops,

and people

a) New World to Old World

b) Old World to New World