The Discovery of America

Introduction

• The Age of Discovery• Christoph Columbus• European colonization of the America• The Spanish and Portuguese colonies• English and French colonies• American Revolutionary War• Manifest Destiny

The Age of Discovery• known as the Age of Exploration• a period in history starting in the 15th century and continuing into

the early 17th century• the Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of the world• establishing direct contacts with Africa, America, Asia and Oceania• mapping the planet• the first initiators – Portuguese and Spanish• searching alternative trade routes to „the Indies“• the trade with gold, silver and spices• in 1492 – the Spanish expedition headed by Christopher Columbus -

gave impetus to the European conquest, exploration and colonization of the new world

Old World Map

Christoph Columbus(c. 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506)

• a navigator, colonizer and an explorer • from the Republic of Genoa • four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean• all his voyages funded by the Spanish Queen Isabella I. Castile• his first voyage- on the 3th August 1492 - with three ships – Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina- his conviction - the Earth is round and he was satisfied to reach the India acrossing the Atlantic Ocean- Columbus first sailed to the Canary Islands, where he restocked the provisions and made repairs

Christoph Columbus(c. 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506)

- the land was sighted at 2 a.m. on 12 October 1492, by a sailor named Rodrigo de Triana aboard Pinta-Columbus called the island San Salvador (the Bahamas), the natives – Guanahani (Indios)-the indigenous people he encountered, were peaceful and friendly-he also explored the northeast of Cuba and the northern coast of Hispaniola and Haiti• the 3th voyage - exploration of the coast of the South America

by Salvador Dalí

European colonization of the America

• The start typically dated to 1492• But the first known Europeans to reach the America

were the Vikings – during the 11th century (one short lived settlement at L´Anse aus Meadows – present days in Newfoundland)

• The post 1492 – era is known as the period of the Columbian Exchange – a wide transfer of plants, animals, foods, human populations (including slades) and culture

• The first explorations and conquests – made by the Spanish and Portuguese

• 1494 – „Treaty of Tordesillas“, ratified by the Pope

Colonization of the America 1750

The Spanish and Portuguese colonies

• The Spanish colonies – by the middle of 16th century - control of much of western South America, Central America – the Caribbean and Mexico, Florida and New Mexico

• The explorers - Vasco Núnez de Balboa – in 1513 crossed the Isthmus of Panama - Hernan Cortes – overthrowing the Aztec Empire- Francisco Pizzaro – conquered the Inca Empire• The Portuguese colonised much of eastern South America, naming

it Brazil• The explorers- Pedro Álvares Cabral – reached Brazil- Amerigo Vespucci – a Latinized version of his name – naming of the continent

English and French colonies• England and France – start in the 16th century – but these met with failure• In the 17 th century – two kingdoms with the Dutch Republic - success in establishing permanent colonies• Some of these – on Caribbean islands, the others - in eastern

North America• England – established the colonies at the Atlantic coast from

Florida to Quebeck (e.g. Virginia, New England, New York, Massachusetts)

English and French colonies• The English Queen Elisabeth – countenanced the corsairs, who stole

the Spanish ships (the sea war with Spain)• The Explorers – John Cabot (Newfoundland) Samuel de Champlain (Kanada)• To the year – 1775 - the England established 13 colonies• French colonies – - in the middle of North America along the river Mississippi – Louisiana, Quebeck)• The explorers – Giovanni da Verrazzano

American Revolutionary War• American War of Independence (1775 – 1783)• Thirteen Colonies – Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia,

Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island – declared their independence

• These British colonies in North America rebelled against British rule in 1775• Result: Treaty of Paris 1783, establishment of the United States of America• Commanders: George Washington• Great Britain recognized the independence • of the original thirteen colonies• Declaration of National Independence

Manifest Destiny

• What is Manifest Destiny?

• Was in the 19th century American belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean• Advocates of this concept believed that expansion was not only wise but that it was readily apparent (manifest) and inexorable (destiny)

Manifest Destiny• John O´Sullivan – coined this exact term• It was used by Democrats in the 1840 to justify the war with

Mexico• It was opposed by „Whigs“ like Henry Clay and Abraham Lincoln• It fell into disuse after the middle 1850

• The Whigs – a political party, during the era of Jacksonian democracy

16th President of US