Chapter 3 Section 1

Spain Prepares for Exploration

Reconquista

• 800 years before Columbus set sail

• Spanish Christians vs. Islamic Moors– Moors from northwest Africa

The Moors

• 711—Moors gained control of Spain

• Brought great wealth to region

The Christians

• Viewed retaking the land a necessity

• Believed God wanted them to drive out “unbelieving” Moors

• Had hard time pushing Moors out– Due to divisions among forces– Fought among themselves– Finally managed to push Moors out

Reconquista Completed

• Granada– Last Moor stronghold

– 1492—Spanish Christians pushed Moors out

– Reconquista over

– Spain now fully under Spanish control

1492 History

• Leonardo da Vinci draws a flying machine

• Ivan the Great (Russia) invades Lithuania

• da Vinci’s Flying Machine

The 3 G’s

• Soldiers– Way for Spanish men to have better lives– When enemy defeated, wealth was taken– Mighty warrior=honor– Gold– Glory– God

Change of Purpose

• After defeating Moors, soldiers lost their purpose

• Soldiers now looking for new lands to conquer

Christopher Columbus

• Experienced sailor

• Born in Italy

• Lived in Portugal– Portuguese among

Europe’s leading overseas explorers

Christopher Columbus

• 1453– Turks captured Constantinople– Price of oriental trade goods went up in

Europe– Fortune to be made if route to “the Indies”

could be found that bypassed Muslim-controlled territories

Christopher Columbus

• Columbus came up with plan to sail west going long way around and arriving at China from east

• Tried to interest King John of Portugal– Portuguese working on own exploration route

going down coast of Africa—not interested

• 1486—Columbus left for Spain to interest them

King John II

• Portuguese explorations were his main priority in government

Christopher Columbus

• Spain involved in Reconquista

• Spanish King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella had neither time nor money for Columbus’s plan

• Columbus stayed in Spain waiting for opportunity

Columbus’s 1st Voyage

• Columbus departed from port of Palos (near Huelva) on August 3, 1492

• 3 ships– Nina– Pinta– Santa Maria

Columbus’ 1st Voyage

• October 12, 1492– Land sighted by Rodrigo de Triana– Columbus called it San Salvador

• “They ought to make good and skilled servants, for they repeat very quickly whatever we say to them. I think they can very easily be made Christians, for they seem to have no religion. If it pleases our Lord, I will take six of them to Your Highnesses when I depart, in order that they may learn our language."

Columbus’ 1st Voyage

• October 28—explored Cuba

• December 5—explored Hispaniola – Santa Maria ran aground

• The Nina– Smallest of the fleet– captained by Vicente

Añes Pinzón – probably 50 or 60 tons

• The Pinta– captained by Martín

Alonso Pinzón – a smaller, lighter, and

faster ship than the tubby Santa Maria

– probably was about 70 tons

– Fastest of the three

• The Santa Maria– broad and slow,

designed for hauling cargo

– Weighed about 100 tons

– The slowest of the 3

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