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Causes
• “God, glory, and gold”• Rise of “new” monarchies resulted in
competition• Search for new knowledge• Improved navigation technology• Commercial Revolution• Religious desire
Advancements in Technology
• Advances in astronomy• Instruments– Magnetic compass– Latitude • Quadrant - 1450• Mariner’s astrolabe - 1480• Cross staff - 1550
Ships
• Portuguese caravel– Lighter, faster ship suited for exploration along
African Coast– Could sail into the wind
• Lateen sail and rope rigging– Quickly maneuver to take advantage of wind
• Axial rudder– Improved mobility
Portugal
• Motives for exploration– Economic – all water route to Asia– Religious – looking for help against Muslims
Prince Henry the Navigator
• 1394-1460• Financed numerous expeditions along the
West African coastline in hopes of finding gold
Vasco da Gama
• 1469-1525• Followed Dias route and completed all water
travel to India in 1498• Brought back Indian goods creating a huge
demand• This hurt the Italian monopoly trade with Asia
Amerigo Vespucci
• 1454-1512• Explored Brazil• “America” named after him after he falsely
proclaimed he was first to sight new land (Cabral actually was first)
Portugal’s colonies
• Brazil– Administrative structure similar to that of Spain in
the New World– In the 17th century, large numbers of slaves from
Africa were brought to help import– Significant racial mixture between whites,
Amerindians, and blacks resulted
Christopher Columbus (Spain)
• 1451-1506• Ferdinand and Isabella financed voyages• 1492, reached the Bahamas, believing he had
reached the “Indies”• His four expeditions charted most of the
major islands in the Caribbean• His expeditions ushered in an era of European
exploration and domination of the New World
Bartholomew de las Casas
• 1474-1566• A Brief account of the destruction of the Indies– Publically criticized Columbus on his treatment of
Amerindians– Spread “black legend” in Protestant countries
where Spain was accused of using Christianity ostensibly killing natives• England was just as guilty
Treaty of Tordesillas
• 1494• Spain sought to secure Columbus’ discoveries • New world divided– Portugal• Brazil and claims in Africa
– Spain • Rest of Americas
Ferdinand Magellan
• 1480-1521• His ship was the first to circumnavigate the
globe• Was killed in Philippines by natives
Conquistadores
• Hernando do Cortes– 1485-1547– Conquered Aztecs in Mesoamerica by 1521
• Francisco Pizarro– 1478-1541– Conquered Inca Empire along with Andes
Mountains in 1532
“Golden Age of Spain”
• “New Imperialism”• Colonies existed for the benefit of the mother
country• Mining gold and silver very important
• 1/5th of findings went to crown
• Goods shipped to Americas and did not allow for natives to form industries (no competition)
Encomienda System
• Why?– Spanish government sought to reduce the savage
exploitation of Amerindians in the Spanish Empire• Laws against exploitation was poorly enforced
Encomienda System
• Amerindians worked for an owner certain days, and for themselves others– Spain’s ability to utilize labor was major reason why
the Spanish Empire imported few slaves from Africa• Mestizos– Spaniards married Amerindian women creating
mixed descent• Creoles– Spaniards born in the New World to Spanish parents
“Old Imperialism”
• Africa and Asia• Characterized by establishing posts and forts
on coastal regions• This was complete opposite of “New
Imperialism”– Entire nations were conquered and exploited
Portugal Trading Posts
• By 1495, Portugal had established forts and posts along the Guinea Coast
• Da Gama set up trading posts in India
Alphonso d’ Albuquerque
• 1453-1515• Laid foundation for Portuguese imperialism• Established strategy of making coastal regions
a base to control the Indian Ocean• Did not seek to create an empire by
penetrating inland• Established an empire in Spice Island after
1510
Francis Xavier
• 1506-1552• Led Jesuit missionaries to Asia where by 1550,
thousands of natives had been converted to Christianity in India, Indonesia, and Japan
Dutch Republic
• Dutch East India Company– Founded in 1602 and became force behind Dutch
imperialism– Expelled Portuguese from Ceylon and other Spice
Islands– By 1650, began challenging Spain in the New
World and controlled much of the American and African trade
France
• Jacques Cartier– 1491-1557– In search of a Northwest Passage, he explored the
St. Lawrence River region of Canada• Quebec– France’s first settlement in the New World, not
founded until 1608
England
• Came into exploration relatively late• John Cabot– 1425-1500– Explored northeast coast of North America– Henry VII not interested in colonization since no
gold or silver was found