Transcript File
The Atlantic World
1492 – 1800
Overview
Starting in 1492, Spain builds a large
empire in the Americas
The Dutch, English, and French fight for
control of North America
Contact between the Old World and New
produced an exchange of ideas
What’s this known as??
Europeans Explore the
East
Motivations for exploration
God
Desire to spread Christianity
Glory
Gold
Seeking new trade routes
Technology makes exploration possible
Shipbuilders designed a new vessel – the caravel
Astrolabe
Compass
Prince Henry
Son of Portugal’s
king
Supporter of
exploration
Wanted gold and
other treasures and
spread Christianity
Founded the
navigation school
Vasco da Gama
Portuguese explorer
In 1497, began
exploring the east
African Coast
In 1498, he reached
India
First explorer to leave
Europe and directly
sail to India
Spain builds an empire
1492, Christopher
Columbus sailed to
America
Intended to reach
Asia
Claimed land for
Spain
Sent another voyage
to form colonies
Spain builds an empire
1501, Amerigo Vespucci explored
eastern coast of South America
Discovered that these lands were not Asia
but a new world
Soon afterwards, a mapmaker showed the
lands as a separate continent
Named America after Vespucci
Spain builds an empire
Ferdinand Magellan
Sailed completely around the world
Died halfway around but a few members of
his crew survived
Returned to Spain after almost three years of
sailing
English Exploration
James Cook
mapped the Pacific, New Zealand and
Australia
in 1770, discovered and charted New
Zealand and the Great Barrier Reef of
Australia on his ship Endeavor
provided the first accurate map of the Pacific
died in a skirmish with islanders in Hawaii,
on February 14, 1779.
Cook’s Voyages
French Exploration
Samuel de Champlain
“Father of New France”
Sailed as far as
Quebec in 1608
Explored much of
northeast Canada:
St. Lawrence River,
Niagara Falls
Founded Quebec, a fur
trading post
Columbian Exchange
Constant movement of people form Europe
and Africa to the Americas
Large scale mixing of people and culture
Columbian Exchange
Food
Corn and potatoes taken to Europe
Bananas, black-eyed peas
Animals
Cattles, pigs, and horses were brought to Americas
New businesses
Rise of capitalism
Based on private ownership
Joint-stock companies
Investors pooled their money to start a new business and
share in profits
Columbian Exchange
New Businesses
Mercantilism
Country’s wealth depended on its wealth
Getting more gold and silver increased wealth
Selling more goods would also increase wealth