chapter introduction the beginnings of our global age: europe and the americas (1492–1750) chapter...

Chapter Introduction

The Beginnings of Our Global Age: Europe and the Americas (1492–1750)

Chapter Introduction

This chapter will cover the conquistadors taking over the Aztec and Incan empires, the establishment of European colonies in the Americas, the slave trade, and the effects of the Columbian Exchange.

• Section 1: Conquest in the Americas

• Section 2: Spanish and Portuguese Colonies in the Americas

• Section 3: Struggle for North America

• Section 4: The Atlantic Slave Trade

• Section 5: Effects of Global Contact

Section 1

Conquest in the Americas

Conquest in the AmericasConquest in the Americas

Chapter 15: Section #1

Section 1


As inferiorsAs inferiors

Question #1:

How did Spanish conquistadors treat the Taínos?

Section 1


They believed that Cortés might be one oftheir gods, and therefore were more welcomingthan they might have been otherwise.

They believed that Cortés might be one oftheir gods, and therefore were more welcomingthan they might have been otherwise.

Question #2:What impact did the Aztecs’ religious beliefs have on Cortés’s approach to Tenochtitlán?

Section 1


The Inca civil war, Indian allies, superiorweapons, and disease.The Inca civil war, Indian allies, superiorweapons, and disease.

Question #3:What factors encouraged Spanish success in Peru?

Section 1


The Maya and the Inca fought or rebelled foryears. Indians throughout the Americas resistedthe Spanish by preserving aspects of their owncultures.

The Maya and the Inca fought or rebelled foryears. Indians throughout the Americas resistedthe Spanish by preserving aspects of their owncultures.

Question #4:In what ways did Native Americans resist Europeans?

Spanish and Portuguese Colonies in the Americas

Section 2

Spanish and PortugueseColonies in the AmericaSpanish and PortugueseColonies in the America



Section 2

A system in which the Spanish had the right to demand labor from Native Americans.A system in which the Spanish had the right to demand labor from Native Americans.

Question #1:

What was the encomienda system?


Section 2

The Church fostered the creation of universitiesin the colonies to provide for the educationof priests.

The Church fostered the creation of universitiesin the colonies to provide for the educationof priests.

Question #2:

What was the role of the Church in colonial education?


Section 2

The cutting and exportation of brazilwood,plantation agriculture, and cattle ranching.The cutting and exportation of brazilwood,plantation agriculture, and cattle ranching.

Question #3:

What was Brazil’s economy based on?

Struggle for North America

Section 3

Struggle for North AmericaStruggle for North America



Section 3

They found farming difficult in the cold climateand much less profitable than trappingand trading.

They found farming difficult in the cold climateand much less profitable than trappingand trading.

Question #1:Why did French settlers abandon farming in favor of fur trapping and trading?


Section 3

As commercial ventures for profit, or ashavens from persecution.As commercial ventures for profit, or ashavens from persecution.

Question #2:For what reasons were the English colonies established?


Section 3

It was fought to determine which country—France or Britain—would have dominance overNorth America.

It was fought to determine which country—France or Britain—would have dominance overNorth America.

Question #3:

Why was the French and Indian War fought?

Section 4

The Atlantic Slave Trade

The Atlantic Slave TradeThe Atlantic Slave Trade


Section 4


The triangular trade was immensely profitableto merchants and to industries such as shipbuilding,fishing, tobacco growing, and sugar cane growing and processing.

The triangular trade was immensely profitableto merchants and to industries such as shipbuilding,fishing, tobacco growing, and sugar cane growing and processing.

Question #1:

How did triangular trade affect colonial economies?

Section 4


By trying to escape, by overcoming theircaptors, or by killing themselves.By trying to escape, by overcoming theircaptors, or by killing themselves.

Question #2:

How did enslaved Africans resist captivity?

Section 4


Millions of Africans were enslaved and killed,destroying lives and disrupting societies.Millions of Africans were enslaved and killed,destroying lives and disrupting societies.

Question #3:

How did the slave trade affect Africans?

Section 5

Effects of Global Contact

Effects of Global ContactEffects of Global Contact


Section 5


The Columbian Exchange made more nutritious foods available to people around the world, spurring population growth.

The Columbian Exchange made more nutritious foods available to people around the world, spurring population growth.

Question #1:

Why did the global population explode?

Section 5


Merchants gave raw materials to a cottager tomake into a product. Merchants then boughtand sold the finished product for a profit.

Merchants gave raw materials to a cottager tomake into a product. Merchants then boughtand sold the finished product for a profit.

Question #2:

How did the “putting-out” system work?

Section 5


Merchants gained wealth, and the middleclass prospered. Nobles did poorly, as the landthey owned brought fewer benefits. Peasantseither felt little change or suffered, falling intopoverty.

Merchants gained wealth, and the middleclass prospered. Nobles did poorly, as the landthey owned brought fewer benefits. Peasantseither felt little change or suffered, falling intopoverty.

Question #3:How did economic changes affect different Europeans?

chapter introduction the beginnings of our global age: europe and the americas (1492–1750) chapter...

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