5.1 Europeans Reach the Americas

Asian Spices and Chinese Silks

Europeans wanted Asian trade goods

Overland trade routes were dangerous

As a result, in the late 1400’s nations in Western Europe raced to find an all water route

Christopher Columbus

An Italian sailor, Christopher Columbus believed that the could reach Asia by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.

Although he was Italian, he sailed for Spain.

The Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria

Three ships were given to Columbus by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella from Spain

On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail and reached the Bahamas on October 12, 1492

He mistakenly landed on the continent known as North America

Spanish Conquest of the Americas

Spain’s rulers waned to expand their Empire by taking control of the Americas

Spain wanted to add to their wealth and spread Christianity

Spain sent conquistadors to explore. Soldiers and adventurers in search of glory, gold and land.

Cortes Marches through Mexico

In 1519, Hernan Cortes and his troops sailed from Spanish Cuba to the eastern coast of Mexico.

He was told of the vast wealth of the Aztec empire and wanted to find and conquer them.

The meeting of Moctezuma II and Cortes

The Aztec had large amounts of gold, precious gems and silver.

Moctezuma gave Cortes peace offerings from his treasure, but it was not enough

Cortes took Moctezuma captive and began planning on how to conquer the Aztec.

Cortes conquers the Aztec In May of 1521, the

Spaniards and their Indian allies took Tenoctitlan.

After a long and brutal fight, in August of 1521, they defeated the Aztec. Many of the Aztec were killed or enslaved and Tenoctitlan laid in ruins.

Much of the great wealth was sent back to Spain and Cortes built Mexico City.