Discovery and Expansion Discovery and Expansion (1450-1650)(1450-1650)

The "Age of Discovery" from 1450 to The "Age of Discovery" from 1450 to 1650 ushered in a new age of world 1650 ushered in a new age of world history based on European mastery history based on European mastery of ocean travel, increased migration, of ocean travel, increased migration, and economic, political, and cultural and economic, political, and cultural expansion. expansion.

Overseas exploration and Overseas exploration and

conquestconquest The outward expansion of Europe The outward expansion of Europe

began with the Viking voyages, and began with the Viking voyages, and then the Crusades, but the presence then the Crusades, but the presence of the Ottoman Turks in the East of the Ottoman Turks in the East frightened the Europeans and forced frightened the Europeans and forced their attention westward. their attention westward.

Political centralization in Spain, Political centralization in Spain, France, and England prepared the France, and England prepared the way for expansion. way for expansion.

The Portuguese, under the leadership The Portuguese, under the leadership of Prince Henry the Navigator, of Prince Henry the Navigator, pushed south from North Africa. pushed south from North Africa.

– By 1500 Portugal controlled the By 1500 Portugal controlled the flow of gold to Europe. flow of gold to Europe.

– Diaz, da Gama, and Cabral Diaz, da Gama, and Cabral established trading routes to India. established trading routes to India.

– The Portuguese gained control of The Portuguese gained control of the Indian trade by overpowering the Indian trade by overpowering Muslim forts in India.Muslim forts in India.

Technological stimuli to explorationTechnological stimuli to exploration The development of the cannon The development of the cannon

aided European expansion. aided European expansion.

New sailing and navigational New sailing and navigational developments, such as the caravel developments, such as the caravel ship, the magnetic compass, and ship, the magnetic compass, and the astrolabe, also aided the the astrolabe, also aided the expansion.expansion.

The Explorer’s MotivesThe Explorer’s Motives

The desire to Christianize the The desire to Christianize the Muslims and pagan peoples played a Muslims and pagan peoples played a central role in European expansion. central role in European expansion.

Limited economic and political Limited economic and political opportunity for upper class men in opportunity for upper class men in Spain led to emigration. Spain led to emigration.

Government encouragement was Government encouragement was also important. also important.

Motives con’t.Motives con’t.

Renaissance curiosity caused people Renaissance curiosity caused people to seek out new worlds. to seek out new worlds.

Spices were another important Spices were another important incentive. incentive.

The economic motive--the quest for The economic motive--the quest for material profit--was the basic reason material profit--was the basic reason for European exploration and for European exploration and expansion. expansion.

The Great Age of Exploration – Part One

The problem of Christopher ColumbusThe problem of Christopher Columbus Until recently most historians agreed Until recently most historians agreed

that Columbus was a great hero who that Columbus was a great hero who carried Christian civilization to the carried Christian civilization to the new world. new world.

Now historians note that he enslaved Now historians note that he enslaved and killed Indians and that he did not and killed Indians and that he did not discover a new continent; others discover a new continent; others claim that he destroyed an earthly claim that he destroyed an earthly paradise. paradise.

In reality, Columbus was a deeply In reality, Columbus was a deeply religious man; he saw a link between religious man; he saw a link between the expulsion of the Moors and his the expulsion of the Moors and his task as Christian missionary. task as Christian missionary.

– But his principal object was to find a But his principal object was to find a direct route to Asia. direct route to Asia.

– When it was clear that he had not When it was clear that he had not found great new spice markets, he found great new spice markets, he turned to setting up a government in turned to setting up a government in the islands. the islands.

– Thus he paved the way for Spanish Thus he paved the way for Spanish imperial administration.imperial administration.

The people of Columbus's era The people of Columbus's era believed that he had discovered a believed that he had discovered a "New World." "New World."

Spanish exploitation in the Caribbean Spanish exploitation in the Caribbean led to the destruction of the Indian led to the destruction of the Indian population. population. – The population of Hispaniola declined The population of Hispaniola declined

from 100,000 to 300; Indians and black from 100,000 to 300; Indians and black Africans were imported to continue the Africans were imported to continue the mining.mining.

The Great Age of Exploration – Part Two

In 1519 Magellan sailed southwest across In 1519 Magellan sailed southwest across the Atlantic for Charles V of Spain; he the Atlantic for Charles V of Spain; he claimed the "Western Isles" for Spain, and claimed the "Western Isles" for Spain, and proved the earth was round and larger than proved the earth was round and larger than Columbus had estimated. Columbus had estimated.

Cortez conquered the Aztec Empire and Cortez conquered the Aztec Empire and founded Mexico City as the capital of New founded Mexico City as the capital of New Spain. Spain.

Pizarro crushed the Inca empire in Peru and Pizarro crushed the Inca empire in Peru and opened the Potosí mines, which became the opened the Potosí mines, which became the richest silver mines in the New World. richest silver mines in the New World.

France and England made sporadic efforts at France and England made sporadic efforts at exploration and settlement. exploration and settlement.

The Low Countries, particularly the The Low Countries, particularly the cities of Antwerp and Amsterdam, cities of Antwerp and Amsterdam, had been since medieval times the had been since medieval times the center of European trade. center of European trade.

– The Dutch East India Company became The Dutch East India Company became the major organ of Dutch imperialism. the major organ of Dutch imperialism.

– The Dutch West India Company gained The Dutch West India Company gained control of much of the African and control of much of the African and American trade.American trade.

The economic effects of Spain's discoveries The economic effects of Spain's discoveries

in the New Worldin the New World

Enormous amounts of American Enormous amounts of American gold and silver poured into Spain in gold and silver poured into Spain in the sixteenth century. the sixteenth century.

It is probable that population It is probable that population growth and not the flood of growth and not the flood of American bullion caused inflation in American bullion caused inflation in Spain. Spain.

European inflation hurt the poor the European inflation hurt the poor the most.most.

Triangular Trade Routes

Colonial administrationColonial administration

The Spanish monarch divided his The Spanish monarch divided his new world into four viceroyalties, new world into four viceroyalties, each with a viceroy and each with a viceroy and audiencia,audiencia, or or board of judges, that served as an board of judges, that served as an advisory council and judicial body. advisory council and judicial body.

The The intendantsintendants were royal officials were royal officials responsible directly to the monarch. responsible directly to the monarch.

The Spanish acted on the The Spanish acted on the mercantilist principle that the mercantilist principle that the colonies existed for the financial colonies existed for the financial benefit of the mother country. benefit of the mother country.

– The Crown claimed the The Crown claimed the quinto,quinto, one fifth one fifth of all precious metals mined in South of all precious metals mined in South America. America.

– The development of native industries The development of native industries was discouraged.was discouraged.

Portuguese administration in Brazil Portuguese administration in Brazil was similar to Spain's. was similar to Spain's.

– The crown of Portugal and Spain The crown of Portugal and Spain became one in 1580, and Spanish became one in 1580, and Spanish administrative forms were introduced. administrative forms were introduced.

– Portugal's mercantilist policies Portugal's mercantilist policies constrained Brazil's growth--but black constrained Brazil's growth--but black slave labor led to much cultivation of slave labor led to much cultivation of coffee, cotton, and sugar.coffee, cotton, and sugar.

– One unique feature of colonial Brazil One unique feature of colonial Brazil was the thorough mixture of the races.was the thorough mixture of the races.

European slavery and the origins of European slavery and the origins of

American racismAmerican racism

Black slavery originated with the end of Black slavery originated with the end of white slavery (1453) and the widespread white slavery (1453) and the widespread need for labor, particularly in the new need for labor, particularly in the new sugarproducing settlements. sugarproducing settlements.

Beginning in 1518 Africans were brought Beginning in 1518 Africans were brought to America to replace Indian slavery; this to America to replace Indian slavery; this was promoted by the missionary las was promoted by the missionary las Casas, who wished to protect Indians. Casas, who wished to protect Indians.

African kings and dealers sold black African kings and dealers sold black slaves to European merchants; the slaves to European merchants; the first slaves were brought to Brazil. first slaves were brought to Brazil.

Settlers brought to the Americas the Settlers brought to the Americas the racial attitudes they had absorbed in racial attitudes they had absorbed in Europe from Christianity and Islam, Europe from Christianity and Islam, which by and large depicted blacks which by and large depicted blacks as primitive and inferior. as primitive and inferior.

The Atlantic Slave Trade