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Notes - Page 1
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Notes – Chapter Two, Part One – Portugal and Spain Lead the Way
II. Portugal and Spain Lead the Way
A. Portugal Takes the First Steps:
The first nation to send sailing expeditions out in search of a route to Asia was Portugal. Under the leadership of Portugal’s leader, Prince
Henry, Portugal created the first sailing and shipbuilding schools in Europe and had a large number of trained captains and navigators that were ready
and willing to sail. Within a short time, Portuguese shipbuilders created a new design – the caravel. Caravels were small ships that used rudders,
triangular sails, and sailing instruments. In addition, they had very large storage spaces that were perfect for trading goods (known as a cargo hold).
Prince Henry directed his captains to begin exploring the western coast of Africa and ordered them to push as far south as possible in the late
1400’s. At the time, Europeans did not know how large Africa was but they suspected that ships could sail around its southernmost point and then
turn east for Asia. They set up trading stations along the coast of Africa as they explored and mapped the continent. The Portuguese closely guarded
their trading posts and routes, attacking ships from other nations and driving other European merchants away.
In 1488, a Portuguese captain named Dias discovered and mapped the southern tip of Africa and named it the “Cape of Good Hope”. Storms,
however, drove his ships back and he was not able to round the tip of Africa. Finally, in 1497, Vasco da Gama (another Portuguese captain)
rounded the Cape of Good Hope, sailed up the East Coast of Africa, and turned east to India. Portugal had won the race to Asia.
EFFECTS:
Portugal had a strong edge over its European rivals. The Portuguese took the lead in exploring Africa and began to trade with the
Africans. They quickly discovered that Africa was rich in gold and ivory and Portugal began to make large profits from the gold and ivory trade. Sadly,
the Portuguese also discovered that Africa was a source of another item that was in high demand – slaves. Beginning in the late 1400’s, the slave trade
between Africa, Europe, and the America’s that would last hundreds of years and ruin millions of lives, had begun.
The Portuguese also controlled nearly all early European trade with Asia. Within a few decades, Portugal was trading with India, the East
Indies, and islands in Southeast Asia. Enormous profits made from trading goods for spices, foods, and fabrics from Asia and reselling them in Europe
were the result for Portugal. Portugal rapidly became a powerful nation.
B. Spain Competes With Portugal:
By 1490, the Christian kingdoms of Spain succeeded in driving the last of the Moors (Muslims) from Southern Spain. The new nation was
united under the control of the two most powerful monarchs of the land – King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Interested in finding trade routes to
Asia and in making great profits from the spice trade, they began to look for a captain to lead a Spanish mission of exploration. The king and queen
also knew that they did not want to compete directly with their western neighbor – Portugal. Spain could little afford another war as it recovered
from the long wars against the Moors.
Notes - Page 2
In 1492, they selected a young and bold captain from the Italian City of Genoa to lead their first sailing expedition in search of a route to Asia
– Christopher Columbus. Columbus had actually been in Spain for several years trying to convince the king and queen that he could reach Asia by
sailing directly west and going around the world. Many thought that his plan was foolish but Columbus was persistent and won permission to lead
three very small ships and crews across the Atlantic in search of a western route to Asia.
EFFECTS:
Columbus was not the first person to claim that the world was round, but he was the first explorer to suggest sailing around the world to
reach Asia. Columbus and the rulers of Spain did not fully understand that Spain had just taken its first step on the path to becoming a great empire.
Columbus’ plan opened up a new effort to find Asia and eventually led to the European discovery of the Americas (North and South).
C. Columbus’ Flawed Plans and Voyages:
In 1492, Spain gave Columbus three very small and old ships – the Santa Maria, the Nina, and the Pinta. Columbus had to hire his own
crews and did not receive any sailors from the Spanish Navy. Before leaving, Columbus entered into an agreement with the Spanish Government.
He would receive no pay or reward if he did not find a trade route to Asia or discover any new lands.
However, if he did discover new lands or find a trade route to Asia, he was to be named the “Admiral of the Ocean Seas” for Spain, governor
of any new territories claimed for Spain, and he would receive a share of all of the money made from any new lands discovered. His descendants
(children, grandchildren, and so forth) were also to be named governors of the territories he had discovered and would continue to receive profits as
he had. He then led the three ships west on August 6, 1492. Few believed that he would ever be seen again. No ship from Europe had ever
attempted to sail west to Asia, no maps existed of the sea to the west of Europe, and there was no knowledge of the lands that Columbus might find.
In truth, Columbus’ plans to reach Asia were flawed (contained errors). He had never been formally educated and based his calculations
about the size of the earth on the accounts of travelers who had visited Asia as well as the inaccurate maps that existed in Europe. He estimated that a
trip to Asia by sailing west would cover 3,000 miles and take two months.
Columbus underestimated the size of the earth by more than 50%. In other words, the world was more than twice as big as he thought it was!
He also never considered that there might be land in between Europe and Asia. As a result, his ships did not have enough food or water to reach
Asia. The expedition was sailing into unknown waters based on false information, with limited supplies, and without the possibility of receiving help
if anything went wrong.
Despite all of these errors, Columbus intended to sail west until he reached the East Indies – the spice growing islands of Southeast Asia.
After a month at sea, his sailors grew worried and demanded that he turn back. Instead, Columbus convinced them to continue for one more day. If
land was not sighted, they would turn back east for Spain. On the next morning (October 12, 1492), the ships’ lookout sighted land. Columbus
believed that he had reached Asia and the East Indies. In reality, he had reached the West Indies –the collection of large islands east of what is now
Cuba.
Notes - Page 3
Columbus never could bring himself to accept that he had not reached Asia. In time, he made three more voyages for Spain and explored
along the northern coasts of South America, the eastern coasts of Central America and Mexico, and the islands of the Caribbean Sea. Unable to work
effectively with Spanish nobles, Columbus fell from the favor of the King and Queen of Spain and died poor and largely forgotten. None of the
promised rewards made by Spain were ever honored after he was removed as Governor of the Colony of Hispaniola.
EFFECTS: Columbus’ accidental discovery of the West Indies was the beginning of the exploration and settlement of the Americas (North
and South). For Spain, it was an opportunity to create colonies and earn money by trading the items found in their new American colonies.
News of the discovery soon spread all over Europe. Other nations, such as England and France, began to prepare to explore the newly
discovered lands. A race started between European nations to create colonies and make money through trade.
The impact on Native Americans, however, was devastating. The arrival of the Spanish was a “turning point”, or major change for
the Americas. Native Americans began to lose control of their lands. Millions were turned into slaves and millions more died as a result of
overwork, starvation, abuses, and disease. Between 1520 and 1610, the Native American population of Central America alone fell from 25
million Indians to just one million. This pattern repeated itself wherever Europeans settled. Native Americans had no resistance to
European diseases.
The Voyages of Portugal to find a trade route to Asia
Christopher Columbus’ attempts to find a trade route to Asia
Notes - Page 4
A replica fleet of Columbus’ ships
King Charles I – The first ruler of a united Spain
and king during the creation of Spain’s New World Empire
Review Questions
1.
Portugal was the first Western European nation to find a route to Asia. In the process of exploring Africa, Portugal; became wealthy
by trading in which three African items?
2.
What was Columbus the first explorer to suggest?
3.
What were three flaws or problems with Columbus’ plan to reach Asia?
4.
Columbus’ accidental discovery was the beginning of:
5.
How did news of the discovery of the Americas effect Europe (what happened in Europe after news of the discoveries arrived?)
6.
Why was the discovery of the Americas by Europeans a “turning point” for Native Americans?
Notes - Page 5
Name: ________________________________
Social Studies Seven/PD: _____
Chapter Two, Part Two – Spain’s New World Empire
A. The Conquest of the Aztec and Inca Empires:
During the early 1500’s, Spain gave soldiers, known as Conquistadores, permission to create colonies in the Americas. In return, the
conquistadores agreed to give the King of Spain 1/5 or 20% of all gold and treasure found in the lands that they colonized. The offer attracted the
attention of Spain’s soldiers, many of whom had heard the rumors of fabulously wealthy Native American cities in what is today Mexico and South
America. Two Conquistadores in particular – Hernando Cortes and Francisco Pizarro, prepared to seek out these empires with small bands of
soldiers.
Cortes led a force of 600 conquistadores into Mexico in 1519. They were armed as typical European soldiers of the time, with armor
covering the body from head to toe, riding horses, and carrying metal weapons, guns, crossbows, and cannon. The people of Mexico had no similar
armor or weapons and had never seen a horse or heard a gun fired before. The arrival of the Spanish was terrifying to the Native Americans of
Mexico and news of their arrival soon reached Moctezuma, the Aztec Emperor. Cortes burned the ships his men arrived on – clearly telling them
that there would be no retreat.
The emperor was deeply troubled by the arrival of the Spanish. Rumors of many strange events and bad omens had been reported to him.
When he heard that pale men with long beards had arrived from the east in “floating houses,” his heart fell. An Aztec legend told of a god
(Quetzalcoatl) who had once been banished and sailed to the east but who had vowed to return to seek revenge. He now feared that this god had
returned and did not dare attack until he was certain that he was not facing a god.
Cortes soon learned of this story from Native Americans who hated the Aztec and he used it to frighten them. In addition, he added a Native
American woman to his force (naming her Dona Marina) to act as an interpreter. With her help, Cortes began to make alliances with the enemies
of the Aztec and over 5,000 Native American warriors joined his force. When he arrived at the Aztec capital, he accepted the emperor’s invitation to
enter the city with his men as guests.
Cortes and his men were astonished by the wealth of the Aztec and soon made the emperor a prisoner in his own palace – forcing him to
order his people to turn over enormous amounts of gold as a ransom. After months of tense waiting and a Spanish attack on a religious festival, the
Aztec elected a new emperor, attacked the Spanish, and drove them from the city with heavy losses. Within a few months, however, Cortes returned
at the head of a large army of Indian allies and defeated the Aztec. The Aztec had been weakened by the outbreak of smallpox and previous battles
against the Spanish and they could no longer effectively defend their city.
Notes - Page 6
EFFECTS:
Cortes’ defeat of the Aztec gave Spain control over all of Mexico and its gold and silver mines - making Spain enormously wealthy. In
Mexico, the Aztec and surrounding people were devastated by the spread of smallpox – millions died. The surviving population of Mexico was put to
work in the farm fields and mines of the Spanish. Even the Indians who had helped Cortes conquer the Aztec found themselves the slaves and servants of
the Spanish.
Following the example of Cortes, Francisco Pizarro invaded the Inca Empire (present day Peru) in 1532 with a force of only 200 men. He
arrived in the Middle of a bitter civil war and invited the Inca Emperor (Atahualpa) to meet with him. When the emperor and a small guarding force
arrived, Pizarro attacked and captured him, forcing him to turn over large amounts of gold to win his freedom. After the Inca Emperor did what the
Spanish asked, Pizarro ordered him to be strangled to death.
Weakened by their own civil war and without a leader, the Inca government and army fell apart. Pizarro was able to steadily defeat the
scattered resistance offered by the Inca and controlled most of the Inca Empire by 1535. Once again, trickery, superior weapons, and smallpox aided
the Spanish. For the second time in 20 years, a Native American Empire of millions fell to a Spanish force of less than 1,000.
EFFECTS:
The downfall of the Inca Empire was the end to any serious threat to Spanish control over the entire continent of South America. Once
again, gold and silver flowed back to Spain while Native Americans died of disease and were enslaved by the Spanish. By 1600, the population of some
areas of Central and South America fell by up to 90%. By 1535, Spain was in control of an empire that stretched from present day Mexico to the tip of
South America.
The Spanish Empire in the mid to late 1500’s
Notes - Page 7
Hernando Cortes
Spanish soldier who conquered the Aztec Empire
Emperor Moctezuma (Aztec Empire)
Image from an Aztec Codex
Francisco Pizarro
Spanish soldier who conquered the Inca Empire
Inca Emperor Atahualpa (on platform) in battle against the Spanish
Notes - Page 8
Review Questions
1.
What did the King of Spain give the Conquistadors permission to do and what did the Conquistadors agree to give the King in
return?
2.
Why were the Aztec unable to defend their capital from Cortes’ second attack after originally driving Cortes from the city?
3.
Cortes’ defeat of the Aztec gave Spain:
4.
What happened to the Native Americans of Mexico after the Spanish victory?
5.
Why did the Inca government fall apart after Pizarro killed the emperor?
6.
How much did the Native American population of some areas fall after the Spanish victories over the Aztec and Inca Empires
and what caused this to happen?
Notes - Page 9
(Notes)
Name: ___________________________________
Social Studies Seven/PD: _____
Chapter Two/Part Three – European Colonization the Americas
IV. European Colonization of the Americas
A. New Spain and the Decline of Native Americans:
Under the rule of “viceroys” (governors), Spain split its new world empire into two. New Spain eventually grew to control Florida, the
Caribbean Islands, California, most of the modern Southwest United States, Mexico, and Central America. Peru controlled all of South America
(except Brazil). Under the harsh rule of Spain, the new colonies produced the wealth that turned Spain into a European “superpower” for nearly two
centuries. The natives living in the colonies lost nearly everything and often became slaves.
A common pattern developed over the next few centuries as Europeans explored the Americas and started new colonies. Native Americans
would be exposed to European diseases such as smallpox, measles, mumps, chickenpox, and the flu. The people of the Americas had no resistance to
these diseases and millions died from them. Many Europeans also tried to use Natives as slaves and this resulted in the mistreatment and death of
millions of Native Americans as well.
Europeans were also not afraid to use their military technology (guns, armor, cannon, and metal weapons) to attack and force Natives to
abandon their lands. Even when Europeans had friendly intentions, they caused harm. Attempts to convert Indians to Christianity accidentally
spread deadly diseases, led to splits and conflicts within tribes, and created anger and resentment.
Trade with Indians also spread diseases and led to further problems for Native Americans. The introduction of metal and other European
items (especially weapons) began to change the cultures of Native Americans and this led to an increased level of fighting between Native tribes.
One of the worst side effects of the trade was the damage that alcohol did to Native Americans. Natives also had no resistance to alcohol and the
effects were devastating – killing many, creating violence within the tribes, and even destroying the cultures of some tribes.
Sadly, many Europeans took advantage of the lack of resistance that Native Americans had towards alcohol and diseases in order to take land
from them. They knew that giving a blanket that had belonged to a European who had been ill from a disease (such as smallpox) to a Native
American would spread the disease to an entire tribe. Once the disease had killed many, the Europeans could move in and take land without
resistance. Alcohol was also sometimes used to create problems within a tribe – distracting the tribe from defending their lands.
EFFECTS:
Native Americans slowly lost control of their lands and began to die by the millions as Europeans settled in the Americas. The arrival of
Europeans also began to change the cultures of many Native Americans – often for the worse. Within a surprisingly short time, entire regions fell under
complete European control. By the middle of the 1500’s, nearly all of South America, Central America, and Mexico were under Spanish control.
Notes - Page 10
B. Portugal and Spain Divide the World:
Spain and Portugal began to fight over territory in South America shortly after Portugal created a colony in Brazil. The two nations agreed to
settle their differences by following a decision made by the Pope on dividing the New World lands. In 1494, the Pope, who had been anxious to
prevent a war between two of the most powerful Christian nations in Europe, made a decision that would have a great impact on the Americas.
Portugal was given the right to colonize and trade with Brazil, the East Indies, and Asia. Spain was given the right to colonize all of the Americas
except Brazil. The agreement between the two nations was made official under a treaty known as the Treaty of Tordesillas.
Not only were the inhabitants of the New World (Native Americans) left out of the treaty – the rest of Europe was as well. Smaller and less
powerful nations such as England, the Netherlands, and France realized that they were rapidly falling behind in the race to create colonies and make
fortunes from trade. Within each nation, rulers and explorers began to turn their attention to the west.
EFFECTS:
The treaty prevented a war between Spain and Portugal and placed the Americas (from Texas and Florida to South America) under
Spanish control. Other European nations such as England, France, and the Netherlands would have to settle far to the north of the Spanish Colonies to
avoid a fight with Spain. As a result, they began to explore for a Northwest Passage (sea route to the north and west of the Spanish Colonies) to Asia. In
time, their explorations would lead to the settlement and colonization of all of North America.
Spanish Empire under the treaty of Tordesillas
(Red Areas)
Portuguese Empire under the Treaty of Tordesillas
(Blue Areas)
Notes - Page 11
The Class System of Spain’s New World Colonies
Notes - Page 12
C. The Early Voyages of England, the Netherlands, and France:
News of the voyages of Columbus’ created a desire to explore in the smaller nations to the north of Spain and Portugal. England, France, and
the Netherlands also wished to find a passage to Asia and to create colonies in the Americas, but none of them wished to begin a war with Portugal or
Europe’s most powerful nation – Spain.
Portugal controlled the route around Africa leading to Asia (south and east). Spain controlled the route around South America leading to Asia
(south and west) and there was no passage above Europe to Asia (it was blocked by ice). As a result, England, France, and the Netherlands
concentrated on finding a route to the north and west above the Americas and to Asia. This unknown route was called the Northwest Passage.
England began the search for a Northwest Passage in 1497 when King Henry VII (the seventh) hired an Italian captain named John Cabot.
Cabot sailed the Atlantic on a 79-day voyage and returned to England to report that he had “found an island of Asia”. For a short time, England
believed that it had discovered the Northwest Passage but soon discovered that it had simply found another part of North America. Cabot had
discovered present day Newfoundland, the easternmost province of modern Canada.
The English sent out other expeditions and tried to start colonies in what is today Virginia during the late 1500’s and early 1600’s with mixed
success. In addition, England (and the Netherlands) hired Henry Hudson to find a Northwest Passage in 1610. During his first voyage for the
Netherlands, Hudson sailed into present day New York Harbor and up the Hudson River. On a later voyage for England, he sailed into what is today
Hudson Bay, Canada and was trapped by the ice for the winter. His crew mutinied (rebelled) against him and cast him off with his son and a few
sailors in a small boat. Hudson was never seen again.
France also hired an Italian captain named Verrazzano to find a Northwest Passage in 1524. He explored what is today the East Coast of the
United States and returned to France. Another expedition under an explorer named Cartier sailed halfway up the St. Lawrence River and reported
that he had found a possible Northwest Passage to Asia. In time, his discovery would become the colony of “New France.”
EFFECTS:
None of these early explorations resulted in the immediate beginning of a colony or the discovery of a true Northwest Passage for England,
France, or the Netherlands. The voyages did, however, lead to more complete knowledge of North America and the creation of new and more accurate
maps. In the 1500’s, each of these nations would create colonies in North America based on their early explorations.
Notes - Page 13
John Cabot (Explored for England)
John Cabot’s Voyages for England in 1497-1498
Henry Hudson’s Voyages for the Netherlands (red) in 1609
and England (purple) in 1610-1611
Notes - Page 14
Verrazzano’s Explorations for France
Cartier’s Voyages for France in 1534, and 1535-1536
Notes - Page 15
The Modern Northwest Passage – Summer of 2007
Explorers searched for centuries to find the Northwest Passage – only to be blocked by polar ice above Canada. Today, there is a Northwest Passage during much
of the year. Many scientists and climate experts believe that this is the result of global warming. The unexpected opening of the passage has created another
unlooked for result – territorial disputes between nations over control of the passage. As of this time, Canada has claimed that the route belongs to Canada.
However, the United States and other nations have announced their intention to use the passage.
Notes - Page 16
Review Questions
1.
What did the wealth of Spain’s “New World” Colonies do for Spain?
2.
Why did Native Americans die in very large numbers when they came into contact with European diseases?
3.
Which territories was Spain given to colonize (settle) under the Treaty of Tordesillas?
4.
Which territories was Portugal given to colonize (settle) under the Treaty of Tordesillas?
5.
What did nations such as France, England, and the Netherlands began to search for and what did this search lead to?
6.
What did the voyages of Cabot, Hudson, Verrazzano, and Cartier lead to?