age of discovery

Europe

The New World

New World Empires

Why 1500?Europe – fragmented prior to 1500

Isolation, autonomy

Unification –ImmigrationChristianity

Warfare against IslamFeudalismAdvancements

Transportation Technology

Why 1500?God, Glory, and Gold

Missionary workPrevent spread of Islam

Devshirme Janissary Corp

Enhance reputation of countriesAmass wealth

Ottoman EmpireConquest of Constantinople, 1453

Cut off Europeans from Asian luxury goods Ended reign of the Byzantine Empire

How?Improvements in technology

China / PortugalInvention of compassSturdier boatsNavigational skillsUnderstanding of currents / wind patternsMapsAbility to calculate direction and latitude

Prince Henry the Navigator

Christopher Columbus

Vasco Da Gama

Ferdinand MagellanAmerigo Vespucci

Columbian Exchange

WeaponsHorsesFoodDisease

Smallpox, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, and influenza

Aztec and Incas

Conquistadores

Indigenous populations

Savages?

Hernan Cortes Francisco Pizarro

Advantages

Swords, muskets, cannons, and horsesDiseaseDeceptionMethod of divide and conquer

Dona MarinaTook advantage of existing indigenous

divisions

Spanish AdministrationViceroy

Colonial governor appointed by king“I obey, but I do not enforce.”

EncomiendaSpanish settlers granted land and “Indian”

subjectsin exchange for taxes and tributeHuman rights violations

Bartolome De las Casas “A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies”

Atlantic Slave TradeMore colonists = more trade

Need to produce cash crops – dwindling native populations = African slave labor

Slavery existed since ancient times

But, carried out on much larger scale in the 16 Century

Middle Passage

AfricaKinship groups

Muslim slave trade

Syncretic religion

European contributionsMaize, manioc, peanuts

Results?

Increased Knowledge

Spread of Christianity

Wealth and it’s rewards

Exploitation (People and the Environment)

Competition

Columbian Exchange

Destruction of native civilizations

Spread of Slavery

Widespread change on African continent

Population Growth