Transcript Coming to America

Spanish
Conquest of
the
Americas
European Exploration of the
New World
Age of Exploration
Advances in science &
technology during the
Renaissance &
Reformation caused
questioning &
exploration
1200s Marco Polo
traveled from Italy to
China
1400s Prince Henry of
Portugal set up a school
& naval observatory;
sponsored voyages in
Atlantic Ocean & Africa
Marco Polo’s Voyages
Spanish Conquest of the
Americas
European powers
rivaled each other for
control of new lands
Primarily Spain &
Portugal
Spain claimed the
Americas (except
Brazil)
King Ferdinand & Queen
Isabella sent
Christopher Columbus
to explore
WHY?
The 3 “G’s”
God
To Christianize &
“Civilize”
Gold
For riches (gold &
spices)
Glory
Competition, power,
prestige
And Asia
Faster route to Asia to
bypass middle
merchants
HOW?
Technology/ weapons
Horses & guns vs. bow &
arrow
Disease
Wiped out & weakened
population
Smallpox killed 90%
Allies
Played tribes of one
another with alliances
Trickery
Made treaties with
tribes but lacked
enforcement
SIGNIFICANCE
Completely altered Latin American
civilization
Politically: foreign control (gov’t)
Economically: dependent econ (single crop)
Socially/culturally: social structure by race,
ethnicity; forced labor
Americas connected to Eurasia (New World
to Old World)
Pacific Connections
Cultural Exchange (Columbian Exchange)
COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE
Diffusion (exchange) of
plants, animals, disease, ideas
among Europeans, Native
Americans & later Africans
From New World: Beans,
cocoa, corn, peanuts,
potatoes, pumpkins,
squash, tobacco,
tomatoes, turkey
From Europe: Bananas,
cattle, citrus fruits,
disease, grain, grapes,
horses, peaches, pears,
pigs, sugarcane
Effects of Columbian
Exchange?
Positive Effects
Negative Effects
Review
Using short answer format, respond to
the following questions:
1. In your opinion, what was the most
significant motive for European
conquest?
2. In your opinion, what was the most
effective technology used in European
conquest?
3. In your opinion, was the Columbian
Exchange more positive or negative
overall? Consider short- & long-term
effects.