Exploration

Leading to the colonization of North America

The Crusades

• The Crusades were an attempt to take back the Holy land in the Middle East from the Muslims

• Sparked an increase in trade and it weakened the power of European Nobles who lost their fortunes and lives during fighting

• As Crusaders returned from the Middle East they brought spices, silk, jewels that fueled the need for a quicker route to the East Indies

Map of Crusaders Path

European Society

• Population of Europe was rebounding from the plague or “black death”

• As population increased the need for more land due to the overcrowding in cities

European Economy

• As trade increased, companies were formed

• Investors formed International Banking Houses which allowed merchants to transfer money from city to city

• Joint Stock Companies were also formed which permitted people to pool money toward expeditions

• Led Europe to ultimately explore the America’s

Technological Change in Europe

• Sailing technology: astrolobe…Aloud the sailors to feel safe to be farther from land

• The new innovations of sails which now allowed ships to sail directly into the wind

Portugal led the Way

• The prince of Portugal (Henry the Navigator)led the way of exploration, but an unknown sailor by the name of Christophor Columbus had other ideas about finding the Indies.

• Columbus thought that if he sailed West he could reach the East Indies much quicker than going around the large continent of Africa. (what does he really believe ?)

• Columbus left the Canary Islands and landed in the new land of America in October 1492.

• The lookout hollered. “Tierra, Tierra”! (land, land)

Christopher Columbus• Born: Genoa, Italy (1451)• Columbus made 4 voyages to the new world.• Scientists are not quite sure if

Columbus died of VD, but they do know that Columbus and Isabella suffered the same type of illness.

• It is known that Columbus died on May 20, 1506 a poor and disgraced man.

Explorers Map of the World

The first composed of the Santa Maria, Nina, and Pinta. Columbus set sail with 90 men.

Columbus’ other voyages to explore what he thought to be the West Indies!

The journey

Treaty of Tordesillas

• Overseas expansion inflamed European rivalries

• Portugal, the pioneer, resented Spain’s sudden conquest of the new world.

• Pope Alexander VI, a Spaniard, stepped in to avoid war between the two

• Treaty of Tordesillas was signed in 1494.

• Spain and Portugal agreed to divide the Western Hemisphere

• Lands to the west of an imaginery line drawn in the Atlantic belonged to Spain

• Lands to the east of the line, including Brazil belonged to Portugal

Spain’s Encounters• Gold, land, and silver

were the main reasons for Spanish exploration.

• Columbus named the island he came upon San Salvador (Holy Savior)

• Columbus thinking he had landed in the Indies called the people he met “los indios” meaning Indian.

• Columbus had become Spain’s empire builder rather than an explorer.

The ConquistadorsSpanish explorers took to the seas to claim new colonies for Spain.Lured by the prospect of vast lands filled with gold and silver these explorers became known as “conquistadors”or conquerors. They first pushed into the Caribbean region and the islands off Central and South America. Then sweeping through Mexico to the tip of South America. Conquering peoples and land along the way from 1492 – 1682.

Conquistador’s map

Hernando CortesDestroyed Teochtitlan (Mexico City) and killed Montezuma

Montezuma’s castleHernando Cortes

Francisco PizzarroDestroyed the Inca’s of South America

Juan Ponce de LeonDiscovered “la Florida” Island of Flowers looking

for the Fountain of youth

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

Explored southwest and influenced the pueblo

Menendez de AvilesSettled 1st European permanent settlement of the

new world (America’s) in St. Augustine

The Importance of the Conquistador’s in the New

World• Introduced mestizo• Introduced encomienda which later

lead to bringing slaves from Africa– Ended in 1542 due to the brutality

• Population of the Native Americans going down due to diseases and weapons.

Importance to the World• Start of new race• Spread of religion and other

customs of the Spanish• Permanent settlements of the new

world• Made Spain the most powerful

country by the 1500’s• Trade with the New World –

Columbian Exchange

Columbian ExchangeOld World to New

WorldNew World to Old World

Disease

Smallpox ,Measles, Chicken Pox, Malaria, Yellow Fever, Influenza, The Common Cold

Syphilis

Animal

Horses ,Cattle, Pigs, Sheep, Goats, Chickens

Turkeys, Llamas, Alpacas, Guinea Pigs

Plants Rice ,Wheat, Barley, Oats, Coffee, Sugarcane, BananasMelons, Olives, Dandelions, Daisies, Clover, Ragweed

Kentucky Bluegrass

Corn (Maize),Potatoes (White & Sweet Varieties) Beans (Snap, Kidney, & Lima Varieties)Tobacco, Peanuts, SquashPeppers, Tomatoes, PumpkinsPineapples, Cacao (Source of Chocolate),Chicle (Source of Chewing Gum)Papayas,Manioc (Tapioca),Guavas,Avocados