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Columbus Discovers the Americas 1492 - 1607
Columbus Discovers the Americas
1492 - 1607
Reasons for European Exploration
1. The Crusades
2. Emergence of Strong Central States
3. The Renaissance
4. New Technology
5. Expanding Horizons
The Crusades (1095 – 1291)
Brought Europeans into contact with the Middle EastEuropeans wanted spices and
luxury items from China and India
Emergence of Strong States
France, England, Spain, Italy, Portugal
By 1300s feudalism was decliningKings were becoming more
powerfulTrade was booming
The Renaissance (1350 – 1600)
Rebirth of learningRead Greek, Roman & Arab texts
New Technology
CompassAstrolabeImproved ships
(sails, masts, etc.)
Expanding Horizons
Portuguese explore African coastReach IndiaImport gold, ivory, pepper
and palm oil
Christopher Columbus
Born in Genoa, Italy in 1451Worked as a map maker1470s – began looking for financial backing to find a
western route to IndiaWanted:
Title of Admiral of the Oceans10 % of all the lootGovernorship to his heirs
1492 – Queen Isabella of Spain gave him three shipsDied in 1506, at age 55 depressed & penniless
Tobacco
Columbus and other explorers brought back tobacco seeds to Spain
Europeans believed it was a miracle herb which could:Ward off the plagueCure sword woundsClear congested lungs!!
Columbian Exchange
Q.A.R.70’s Dance Party!
We need 2 Big Groups and 2 small groups (The Movers & the ShakersThe Movers & the Shakers) within the big group.
Form 2 lines that face each other.MoversMovers share ONE question from their list and discuss the answer with their
partner across the isle. Repeat this process with the Shakers. (3.5 Mins)Shakers. (3.5 Mins)When time is up, the movers slide down one position or (boogie down one When time is up, the movers slide down one position or (boogie down one
position). Shakers stay in place or Shake your groove thang!position). Shakers stay in place or Shake your groove thang!The Mover at the end of the line should boogie down between the rows to the
other end.
Other European Explorers
John Cabot (England) Vasco Nunez de Balboa (Spain) Ferdinand Magellan (Spain) Giovanni Verranzo (France) Jacques Cartier (France) Francisco Coronado (Spain) Sir Francis Drake (England) Sir Walter Raleigh (England) Juan de Onate (Spain) Samuel de Champlain (France)
Amerigo Vespucci Henry Hudson (Netherlands) Juan Ponce de Leon (Spain) Hernán Cortez (Spain) Francisco Pizarro (Spain) Hernando de Soto (Spain)
European Explorers
Spain and the Three G’s
GodGoldGlory
What about the Natives?
Indian SlaveryEncomeinda – a land owner had the right to the labor of all
natives who lived on the landCreated by Columbus
Gold Tax
War
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
1492 1510 1550
Native Population of Hispaniola
Priests
Priests and missionaries regularly traveled with the explorersTried to convert the natives to Christianity
Most were good and honestly tried to help the nativesOthers used the cross to justify bad treatment
1514, Pope Leo X declared, “not only the Christian religion but Nature cries out against the slavery and the slave trade.”
Bartolome de las CasasPriest who tried protecting the rights of Native
Americans
Disease
Disease was the Europeans most formidable weaponThe Indians’ immune system had no defense against
diseases such as measles and smallpoxSpread via the trade routes of IndiansDisease killed thousand times more Indians than guns or
swords
African Slave TradeOnce Native populations had been decimated, the
Europeans began turning to Africa for their labor
Treaty of Tordesillas
Black Legend
French Territories
The French claimed the land around the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes
Also claimed the land all along the Mississippi River down to New Orleans
Fishing and trapping for fur were their main enterprises
English Territories
The English claimed the land along America’s Eastern coast
They were most interested in settling the land
The Lost Colony
1587 – Sir Walter Raleigh sent a group of colonists to what is now Virginia89 men, 7 women, 11 children
Called their colony Roanoke1590 – a relief expedition arrived to find
no remains of the colony
Jamestown
