Part VSeptember 23, 2009

The teachings and learnings of the renaissance gradually spread out of Italy and northward.

Northern humanists tended to: Come from more diverse social backgrounds More devoted to religious reforms

The Invention of the printing press in 1450 made possible the expansion of education and debate of religious and political topics like never before

Some of the most popular books of the time were:

Piety and religion Calendars and almanacs How to books on childrearing, making brandy and

spirits, curing animals and farming

The Portuguese Chart the Course! The Portuguese expanded their empire

around the coast of most of Africa. They were originally looking for gold and

slaves and then by the end of the century, a sea route to the Asia’s spice markets

Pepper and cloves were very popular

Spain While Portugal explored the Indian Ocean,

Spain turned westward to find a shorter route to the East Indies

Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492, thinking he had landed in Japan

He named the natives Indians, thinking he was in the East Indies

Spain The Spanish exploration of the Americas had

intended and unintended consequences Spain benefitted immensely from the riches

extracted from the Americas as did Europe as a whole.

Europeans introduced new species of fruit, vegetables and animals into the americas

They also brought back new species to Europe The Americas were infected with measles and

smallpox while the Europeans were dealing with syphilis

The Spanish Empire The Spanish successfully conquered several

Native American empires Aztecs: Ruled all of Central Mexico Incas: Ruled large areas in Peru See Map Page 343

The Church in Spanish America sought to bring Christ to people they thought needed saving as well as to bring them European learning and civilization.

Native Americans were used as slave labor in: Mining (Gold, Silver) Agriculture: The Hacienda was a large landed

estate owned by a Peninsulares or a Creole. Labor Servitude