Age of ExplorationPart I

Do you remember what happened when the Europeans heard of the riches Marco Polo

found in Asia?

European Exploration: Part I

Cause

Result

• Europeans needed spices from East Asia quickly & safely• Tried to find a way to reach Asia faster than Silk Road• Whichever country found the way first would dominate

• After Columbus “discovered” America & rumors abound, the new race began between France, Spain, & England

France

• 1562, Exploring North America for gold, religion, & spices• Especially international prestige

• Huguenots (religious group) were looking for a place to worship freely

• Founded South Carolina colony: Charlesfort• Explorers ran out of food & supplies • Returned in 1565 but settlers had vacated (life

was too hard there)• Founded colony, 1564, Florida-Ft. Caroline

England

• Queen Elizabeth I (ruled 1558-1603)• Protestant (enemy of Spain who was Catholic); Also,

religious freedom • 1588 defeated the Spanish Armada• British naval dominance allowed for American

explorations• Hoped to find gold & discovered making money with

copper & furs• Also came for overpopulation in cities/mercantile

system • Traded Native American slaves (resulting in Native

American deaths)• Native Americans also became involved in selling

slaves• Few records exist to verify what actually

happened

Spanish

•Looking for wealth in North America (God, Gold, & Glory)•Destroyed French Fort Caroline in competition•1568, built first missions in Florida where Fort Caroline had been.•Missions were built to spread Catholicism to convert Native Americans to a new form of society

•Ruled by Spanish colonial governments•Indian Chiefs were under Spanish rule-local leaders•Missions were communication points for Spanish with the Indians•Natives & Europeans traded at the missions•Hernando DeSoto one of best know Spanish Explorers

Age of ExplorationPart II

What happened to the Indians due to all the

exploration?

Spanish Explorations: Part II

Explorers• Ponce de Leon, Cortez, Pizarro, Allyon, & De Soto

Lost

Colony

• Lucas Vazquez de Allyon, 1526, brought 600 settlers to Georgia• Some from Africa-first Africans here?• Settlement: San Miguel de Guadalupe on the Sapelo Sound• First European in GA & First formed settlement in N. America• Doomed to fail; settlers unprepared for winter & no discovery of

wealth

Early

Spanish

• Most explorations were done by the Spanish• Many Spanish colonies were based in the Caribbean• Missions were built on the barrier islands for easy access to the

mainland• Missions were built to convert/”civilize” the Native Americans• Natives used the missions to integrate/assimilate with the Europeans

Spanish Explorations: Part II

Spanish Missions

• Spain considered the French a threat• Sent Pedro Mendez de Avilles (soldier/sailor) to retain territory• From St. Augustine, FL, went to St. Catherines Island• Established Guale (Wallie) (named after an indian friend) with 30 men• First mission was Santa Catalina• Many missions failed; King Phillip II set up additonal missions on barrier

islands; established 70 mission & 40 missionaries in GA• Friars (catholic priests) wanted to civilize the Natives who “ruled over

them”• Juanillo Revolt-local disagreement resulting in killings and abandoned

missions• Missions lasted over 100 years• Ended with British aiding Natives and driving out the Spaniards

Spanish Missions

Spanish Explorations: Part II

Hernando

De Soto

• First European on interior of Southeast

• Looking for gold; landed in Florida first, went through GA, SC, NC, TN, & AL

• Brought 600 men, 200 horses, mules, and dogs

• Traveled up Mississippi; landed close to Albany, GA, 1540

• Introduced natives to white men and horses for first time

• Better weaponry; guns, horses, crossbows, and body armor

• He took advantage of the Native Americans and many Indians died

• He died somewhere along the Mississippi without ever finding gold

• Left notes/writings about his exploration

Spanish Explorations: Part II

Outcome from De

Soto

• Europeans robbed & killed approx. 11,000 Native Americans• Many Europeans died on the explorations; most of De Sotos

army was lost to starvation and disease• Native Americans died from killings & diseases

• Measles, smallpox, influenza, & whooping cough• Many European nations established settlements

• European settlements competed with each other as well as Native Americans

Hernando de Soto