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Visitors from the East• The first known European colonists in the

New World were the Vikings, but they aren’t given credit, because the colonies didn’t last and they didn’t change the course of history.

• St. Brendan (The Voyager) - an Irish saint who reached Newfoundland in a leather boat in the 6th century.

• Eric the Red - established a colony in Greenland in 985

Christopher Columbus• Catholic, Italian explorer

• Queen Isabella of Spain agreed to fund Columbus’ expedition.

• Both Isabella and Columbus were devout Catholics and were committed to bring Christ to the unknown lands.

• Queen Isabella gave Columbus the title “Admiral of the Ocean Sea” and gave him three ships, The Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria

• Columbus wanted to find a quicker route to the Indies. The current route was long, difficult, and expensive, because it was both a sea voyage and an overland journey, and taxes had to be paid to local rulers along the way.

Catholic Spain Leads the Way

• After Columbus’ discovery, many Spaniards began leading expeditions to the New World

• At this time in history the Catholic faith was very strong in Spain.

• Some of the explorers where good Catholics, some were bad Catholics, but ALL were Catholic and they built a catholic society which endures to this day in Mexico, South America, and Central America.

• Catholic names dot the map: San Francisco, San Antonio, Trinidad, Santa Fe, etc.

Catholic Portugal FollowsCatholic Portugal Follows

• Portugal was also staunchly Catholic. (The Portuguese flag at the time depicted the five wounds of Christ)

• Portuguese explorations were sparked by a prince of the royal family, Prince Henry the Navigator

• Prince Henry also wanted outflank the Moslem-held lands and advance the cause of Christianity. (Outflank - to get around the side of an opposing force)

• Prince Henry inspired other Portuguese explorers like Vasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama- Portuguese explorer who found an all-water route to India by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope on the

southern tip of Africa

Pedro Cabral- Portuguese explorer who discovered

Brazil.

The two powers, Spain and Portugal, eventually clashed as they wereexploring the New World.

The Line of Demarcation - a treaty between Spain and Portugal drawingand imaginary line through the Atlantic Ocean. Spain could explore thewestern lands and Portugal could explore the eastern lands.

Amerigo Vespucci - claimed credit for having discovered the mainland of the New World and named it after himself. Later it was discovered that his claims were untrue, but the use of the term “America” was already in widespread use.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa - Led an expedition across Central America. He and his men hacked their way through jungles and waded through swamps until Balboa at last saw the Pacific Ocean.

Spaniards Explore the New World

Juan Ponce de Leon - tried to find the “Fountain of Youth” but instead found Florida. He is the first white man to explore the continental US. He also discovered the Gulf Stream.

Gulf Stream - a swift current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico.

Myth # 1 Columbus didn’t really discover anything. The Indians were already there.

•If two people are in a large building and one finds the other because he set about searching the building, he is the discoverer. (The Indians did not discover Europe)•No people from the from any part of the new world ever discovered Europe.•Europeans discovered all other parts of the world.

Myth # 2 Columbus oppressed the peaceful nature-loving Indians who threatened no one until the cruel white men came.

•The Caribs were cannibals. They ate other humans, not as a religious ritual, but as a regular diet.•The Aztecs practiced human sacrifice on a LARGE scale.(80,000 per year)

Myth # 3 Columbus was motivated by greed.

•Columbus was hoping to find gold to help repay Queen Isabella.•Gold was the only medium of exchange in Europe. (No paper money, or debit cards)• Is it reasonable to think that they should have hoped NOT to find anything of value?

Myth #4 Europeans brought disease the Indians were not able to resist and many died.

• This is actually true, but European explorers could have had no way of knowing about disease, immunity, etc.

• This does not constitute genocide.

genocide is the deliberate destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group

Honoring Columbus

•Only Columbus was daring enough to sail across an ocean of unknown size.•It is his boldness and courage in laying his life on the line that we honor him.•His intent was to spread Christianity to any unknown people.•Suppressing human sacrifice and cannibalism is a good thing.•Although he did lash out at the Indians in response to troubles, he was not a systematic oppressor.