Transcript European Exploration of the Americas

European Exploration
Miss King
Community House Middle
This chapter discusses the competition among
European countries for control of the Americas
from 1492-1700.
It also describes the conquest of many Native
American groups, the culture of Spanish colonies,
and the origins of slavery in the Americas.
Section 1:
Spain Claims an Empire
Spain and Portugal argue over
the Line of Demarcation.
► The Treaty of Tordesillas
decides PORTUGAL gets
most of eastern South
America – present day
Brazil. Spain becomes the
most powerful country.
WHY??
European countries had 3 main goals during the age of
exploration:
►
1. Spread Christianity beyond
Europe (Missionaries were
sent to convert Natives.)
►
2. Wanted to expand their
empires
►
3. Wanted to become rich
Mercantilism
► MERCANTILISM is an
economic system, which
describes how Europeans
enriched their treasuries.
Colonies helped them to do
this.
► The colonies’ provided good or
MARKETS for the country. They
tried to ensure that their imports
did not exceed their exports and
there was a favorable balance of
trade.
First, there was Columbus…
In 1492…
COLUMBUS
SAILED THE
OCEAN BLUE!!
After Columbus’s first voyage there were
many explorers to follow
Amerigo VESPUCCI – an Italian, who realized that he did
not reach Asia but a new continent and had it named
after him by a German mapmaker – America.
Vasco Nunez DE BALBOA – a Spaniard
claimed the Pacific Ocean for Spain.
Ferdinand MAGELLAN – a Portuguese sailor,
is credited as the first to sail around the
world in 1522
2 Famous Spanish Conquistadors:
►
Hernando CORTES – conquers
Aztec empire in Mexico. Defeats
Aztec emperor Montezuma in
1519.
►
Francisco PIZARRO –
conquers Incas in Peru and
defeats Incan emperor
Atahualpa in 1531.
4 Reasons for Spanish Victories:
►
1. Spread of European
diseases kills millions of
Native Americans
►
3. Spain made alliances with
Native Americans who were
enemies of Aztecs and Incas
►
►
2. Spanish excellent soldiers
and have superior weapons
4. Spanish conquistadors
acted brutally toward the
Native Americans under their
control
Spain then began to explore other parts
of North and South America.
Hernando DE SOTO
set out for FLORIDA.
Francisco DE CORONADO
traveled through South
Western USA.