6. Changes in Europe
Middle Ages & Feudalism ................ 400s - 1300s
Crusades ......................................... 1096 - 1300s
Renaissance .................................... 1300s - 1600
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7. Impact of the Crusades
• opened European
countries to travel
• introduced Asian goods
to European markets
• sparked competition
between emerging
European nations.
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9. Impact of Science
• advances made during the scientific
revolution enabled people to make longer,
safer sea voyages.
• explorers were in search of new trade
routes for spices.
• European rulers wanted to control the
spice trade.
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10. Portuguese Explorers
• Henry the Navigator
• Bartholomeu Dias
• Vasco da Gama
• exploration of the
African coast.
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11. Voyages to America
• Political climate in
Europe
• Ferdinand & Isabella
• Christopher Columbus’
plan for exploration...
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12. Columbus
• Italian explorer,
navigator, and colonizer.
• sought fame and fortune
through exploration
• believed you could reach
India (the east), by sailing
west.
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13. Columbus cont.
• made four voyages across
the Atlantic Ocean to the
American continents.
• Initiated Spanish
colonization of the New
World.
• died in Italy, impoverished
and without the fame he
desired
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17. Columbus on the
Natives...
“They ... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and
many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and
hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they owned... . They
were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features.... They
do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a
sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of
ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane... .
They would make fine servants.... With fifty men we could
subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.”
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18. more from Columbus
“As soon as I arrived in the Indies, on the first Island which I found, I
took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and
might give me information of whatever there is in these parts.”
What type of information do you think Columbus wanted?
Columbus reported the following about Cuba and Haiti:
“Hispaniola is a miracle. Mountains and hills, plains and pastures, are
both fertile and beautiful ... the harbors are unbelievably good and there
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19. Columbus’ Reports...
The Indians, Columbus reported, "are so naive and so free with
their possessions that no one who has not witnessed them would
believe it. When you ask for something they have, they never say
no. To the contrary, they offer to share with anyone...." He
concluded his report by asking for a little help from their Majesties,
and in return he would bring them from his next voyage "as much
gold as they need ... and as many slaves as they ask." He was full of
religious talk: "Thus the eternal God, our Lord, gives victory to
those who follow His way over apparent impossibilities."
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21. Mercantilism - Defined
• economic policy used from
1500-1700s
• acquire colonies to control raw
materials and markets
• create a favorable balance of
trade
• maintain a strong navy
• the strength/prosperity of a
nations depends on its supply of
capital
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25. English Explorers
• John Cabot - Italian explorer, sailed for
England Claimed North America for England
(1497).
• Henry Hudson - English/Dutch explorer
explored the area that is near NewYork
City today. Sailed up the river that is named
after him. Laid claim to this area for the
Dutch. Also explored Hudson Bay area of
Canada
• Walter Raleigh - English explorer,
established the first English colony in
America (unsuccessful), introduced tobacco
to Europe. (1584)
• Francis Drake - English “sea dog” first
Englishman to circumnavigate the earth.
Helped destroy the Spanish Armada (1580)
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26. Spanish Colonies
• divided into two provinces called
Viceroyalties. (New Spain and
Peru)
• colonies were ruled by aViceroy
(governor)
• only people of 100% Spanish
descent could hold governing
positions.
• Social Structure - Spanish,
Creole, Mestizos, Natives, Slaves
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27. Bartolome de Las
Casas
• Catholic Priest in the
Spanish colonies
• wrote extensively about
the destruction of the
native population in the
“Indies”
• advocated for an
increase in African
slavery in order to save
the native population
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29. Emergence of American
Slavery
• immune to European
diseases
• no friends of family to
help escape
• offered a permanent
source of labor
• experienced farm/
plantation workers in
their native lands.
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30. Slavery Statistics
• Between 1666 - 1776 approximately 3 million
slaves were imported to the English, French, and
Spanish colonies.
• Over 250,000 died on the middle passage
• By 1786 over 2 Million slaves were imported to
the English colonies.
• By the time the slave trade was outlawed, it is
estimated that over 12 million Africans had been
shipped to the Western Hemisphere.
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