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
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