Colonial Empires:Colonial Empires:The AmericasThe Americas

Europe begins to take Europe begins to take coloniescolonies

►Portugal continues to expand its Portugal continues to expand its influence in the Indian Oceaninfluence in the Indian Ocean

►Spain began to build up a colonial Spain began to build up a colonial empire in the Americas.empire in the Americas.

►Soon, other European nations will start Soon, other European nations will start coloniescolonies

Portuguese Activity in Indian Portuguese Activity in Indian OceanOcean

►Use of force to take over weaker areasUse of force to take over weaker areas Traded with more powerful societiesTraded with more powerful societies

►Portuguese ConquestPortuguese Conquest 1510: seized Goa (India)1510: seized Goa (India) 1511: took over Malacca and Sri Lanka1511: took over Malacca and Sri Lanka

►Malacca important to spice tradeMalacca important to spice trade

Set up strongholds along Africa’s Swahili Set up strongholds along Africa’s Swahili CoastCoast

Spanish Conquest of the Spanish Conquest of the AmericasAmericas

►ConquistadorsConquistadors began conquest of began conquest of Americas in early 1500’sAmericas in early 1500’s 1513: Ponce de Leon in Florida1513: Ponce de Leon in Florida 1521: Aztecs fall to Hernan Cortes1521: Aztecs fall to Hernan Cortes 1530’s: Inca fall to Francisco Pizarro1530’s: Inca fall to Francisco Pizarro

►See Americas as opportunity to See Americas as opportunity to accumulate wealthaccumulate wealth Begin exploiting environment and the Begin exploiting environment and the

Native PopulationNative Population

Spanish Conquest in the Spanish Conquest in the AmericasAmericas

►How were Europeans able to defeat How were Europeans able to defeat the native civilizations (Aztec, Inca, the native civilizations (Aztec, Inca, etc)?etc)? Weaponry & horses= military superiorityWeaponry & horses= military superiority Divide-and-conquer; stir up rivalry so Divide-and-conquer; stir up rivalry so

natives fight among themselvesnatives fight among themselves Diseases decimated the native populationDiseases decimated the native population

►Smallpox, influenza, measles, etc.Smallpox, influenza, measles, etc.

Columbian ExchangeColumbian Exchange

►Quickly begin to set up coloniesQuickly begin to set up colonies►A network of exchange developed A network of exchange developed

between the “Old” and “New” Worldsbetween the “Old” and “New” Worlds Columbian ExchangeColumbian Exchange: movement of : movement of

people, goods, plants/animals, ideas, and people, goods, plants/animals, ideas, and diseases diseases

Columbian ExchangeColumbian Exchange

►What is the impact of this What is the impact of this exchange????exchange???? Spread of diseases to places where they Spread of diseases to places where they

had not been beforehad not been before Demographic changesDemographic changes

►Depopulation of natives, rapid influx of Depopulation of natives, rapid influx of Europeans in Americas, transport of Africans Europeans in Americas, transport of Africans to Americasto Americas

Introduction of new plant/animal speciesIntroduction of new plant/animal species

MercantilismMercantilism

►One of the biggest factors motivating One of the biggest factors motivating Europe was moneyEurope was money

►Mercantilism: policy of using overseas trade Mercantilism: policy of using overseas trade and colonies to accumulate wealthand colonies to accumulate wealth Wealth measured in gold and silverWealth measured in gold and silver

► Long-term impact:Long-term impact:►Mercantilism kept Latin America from developing their Mercantilism kept Latin America from developing their

own economic potentialown economic potential►Latin American economies still largely underdeveloped Latin American economies still largely underdeveloped

due to exploitation and lack of economic developmentdue to exploitation and lack of economic development

Colonial EconomyColonial Economy

► Exploitation of Native Population and Exploitation of Native Population and Environment to achieve wealthEnvironment to achieve wealth Extracting natural resourcesExtracting natural resources

►Silver most important metalSilver most important metal Large mines in Mexico and Potosi in BoliviaLarge mines in Mexico and Potosi in Bolivia Spain used silver to trade with Asia, global influx of silverSpain used silver to trade with Asia, global influx of silver

►Sugar Cane most important ag. productSugar Cane most important ag. product► Began by using Native LaborBegan by using Native Labor

EncomiendaEncomienda: system of forced labor: system of forced labor►Many forced to work in minesMany forced to work in mines►Mita system: Amerindian males required to work in Mita system: Amerindian males required to work in

mines for half of the yearmines for half of the year Rotated laborersRotated laborers Corrupted version of Incan mita systemCorrupted version of Incan mita system

Colonial EconomyColonial Economy

► Europeans began to seek new sources of laborEuropeans began to seek new sources of labor Why??????Why?????? Native population in decline due to diseaseNative population in decline due to disease Many Natives ran away, could blend inMany Natives ran away, could blend in Clergy began to protest against treatment of Native Clergy began to protest against treatment of Native

workersworkers► Slave trade supplied a new source of laborSlave trade supplied a new source of labor

African Slaves imported to work on plantationsAfrican Slaves imported to work on plantations► Atlantic Slave Trade began in 1441Atlantic Slave Trade began in 1441► Estimates of 12 million slaves taken to Americas between Estimates of 12 million slaves taken to Americas between

1400’s and 1800’s1400’s and 1800’s

► Sugar plantations Sugar plantations Very Labor intensiveVery Labor intensive

Colonial EconomyColonial Economy

►Portuguese Brazil was much like the Portuguese Brazil was much like the Spanish coloniesSpanish colonies Brazil was the largest importer of African Brazil was the largest importer of African

slavesslaves►Last American nation to outlaw slavery (1888)Last American nation to outlaw slavery (1888)

Used Africans on sugar plantationsUsed Africans on sugar plantations

Colonial GovernmentColonial Government

► Latin American Colonies divided into Latin American Colonies divided into ViceroyaltiesViceroyalties Ran by Viceroys from EuropeRan by Viceroys from Europe

►Enjoyed broad power due to distance form SpainEnjoyed broad power due to distance form Spain

Most government officials born in SpainMost government officials born in Spain►Local-born members grew in numbers as time progressedLocal-born members grew in numbers as time progressed

► Large BureaucraciesLarge Bureaucracies Funded by taxes from gold and silver minesFunded by taxes from gold and silver mines Spain and Portugal tended to pay more attention to Spain and Portugal tended to pay more attention to

the colonies than other European colonial powersthe colonies than other European colonial powers

Colonial SocietyColonial Society

►Colonial society was a unique Colonial society was a unique combination of European, Amerindian, combination of European, Amerindian, and African culturesand African cultures

►Social Stratification:Social Stratification: Rigid social hierarchy with Spanish at topRigid social hierarchy with Spanish at top

See diagram on next pageSee diagram on next page

CreolesBorn in

Americas, but to European

Parents

Native Americans and African Slaves

Peninsulares:

Born in Europe

Castas Mixed ancestry

European and Native (Mestizo)European and African (Mulatto)

African and Native (Zambo)

Colonial SocietyColonial Society

►Native populations were decimated Native populations were decimated and their belief systems weakened by and their belief systems weakened by European conquestEuropean conquest Many were forced to assimilate to Many were forced to assimilate to

European cultureEuropean culture►Catholic Church helps spread European cultureCatholic Church helps spread European culture►Spanish (native languages used less often)Spanish (native languages used less often)

Native belief systems continued, but Native belief systems continued, but largely under the surfacelargely under the surface

Other European ColoniesOther European Colonies

►As time progressed, other European As time progressed, other European nations began their own coloniesnations began their own colonies

►English: 13 colonies in North America English: 13 colonies in North America as well as islands in the Caribbeanas well as islands in the Caribbean

►French: Canada and islands in Carib.French: Canada and islands in Carib.►Dutch: New Amsterdam and islands in Dutch: New Amsterdam and islands in

CaribCarib

Labor Systems in the Labor Systems in the ColoniesColonies

►Europeans started out using Natives Europeans started out using Natives and Indentured servants for labor, and Indentured servants for labor, Eventually turn to slavesEventually turn to slaves Indentured Servants:Indentured Servants:

►Agreed to work for 3-4 years to pay for Agreed to work for 3-4 years to pay for passage to colonies, were then free to buy passage to colonies, were then free to buy their own landtheir own land

►Short term of contract kept demand for labor Short term of contract kept demand for labor highhigh

Slave TradeSlave Trade

►Slavery had long existed before the Slavery had long existed before the discovery of the Americasdiscovery of the Americas Muslims had been acquiring African Muslims had been acquiring African

Slaves for centuriesSlaves for centuries

►However, the volume of slaves being However, the volume of slaves being traded dramatically increased with the traded dramatically increased with the Atlantic Slave Trade.Atlantic Slave Trade.

Atlantic Slave TradeAtlantic Slave Trade

► Slaves were acquired by Europeans through Slaves were acquired by Europeans through trade with African Elitestrade with African Elites

► Kingdoms along the West Coast of Africa Kingdoms along the West Coast of Africa would sell slaves in exchange for guns, would sell slaves in exchange for guns, textiles, and other manufactured goodstextiles, and other manufactured goods Most slaves were POW’s or had been kidnapped Most slaves were POW’s or had been kidnapped

from the interior of sub-Saharan Africafrom the interior of sub-Saharan Africa► Slaves were then transported to colonies in Slaves were then transported to colonies in

the Americasthe Americas ““Middle Passage”- high mortality rates aboard Middle Passage”- high mortality rates aboard

slave shipsslave ships Most went to sugar plantationsMost went to sugar plantations

Plantation LifePlantation Life

► In order to increase efficiency, planters In order to increase efficiency, planters created huge plantationscreated huge plantations Grew one specific crop (sugar, cotton, etc.)Grew one specific crop (sugar, cotton, etc.) Required many slaves to keep operation goingRequired many slaves to keep operation going

► Sugar-cane production dominated Sugar-cane production dominated Caribbean economiesCaribbean economies Labor intensiveLabor intensive Harmful to environment due to soil depletion and Harmful to environment due to soil depletion and

deforestationdeforestation►Cleared new land once the fields grew infertileCleared new land once the fields grew infertile

Plantation LifePlantation Life

►Slaves organized into “gangs” to perform Slaves organized into “gangs” to perform dutiesduties Most worked in fields (even women)Most worked in fields (even women) Punished by “driver” for lack of productivityPunished by “driver” for lack of productivity

►Plantations were productive b/cPlantations were productive b/c They specialized in one cropThey specialized in one crop

►Harmful later on b/c economy lacks diversificationHarmful later on b/c economy lacks diversification

Used threats and force to keep slaves workingUsed threats and force to keep slaves working

Plantation LifePlantation Life

►Life of a slave:Life of a slave: 18 (or more) hour work day18 (or more) hour work day Off on Sunday, but had to then tidy their Off on Sunday, but had to then tidy their

cabins and tend to their own small gardenscabins and tend to their own small gardens Men outnumbered womenMen outnumbered women Low fertility (due to poor diet and Low fertility (due to poor diet and

exhaustion)exhaustion) High mortality due to diseaseHigh mortality due to disease Life expectancy of 23 years for men, 25 Life expectancy of 23 years for men, 25

years for womenyears for women

Plantation LifePlantation Life

►Manumission:Manumission: Slaves could often buy their freedomSlaves could often buy their freedom

►saved money earned from growing small saved money earned from growing small gardens and selling their producegardens and selling their produce

►Over time, the numbers of free blacks Over time, the numbers of free blacks grew in Spanish and Caribbean grew in Spanish and Caribbean coloniescolonies Manumission less common in English Manumission less common in English

coloniescolonies

African Culture in the African Culture in the AmericasAmericas

►Plantation owners tried to subdue Plantation owners tried to subdue traditional African culturestraditional African cultures

►Many slaves continued to pass on their Many slaves continued to pass on their native culturenative culture Music very importantMusic very important Traditional herbal medicine practicedTraditional herbal medicine practiced Religions (often blended with Christianity)Religions (often blended with Christianity)

►Ex. Vodun (Voodoo) in Haiti is a mixture of Ex. Vodun (Voodoo) in Haiti is a mixture of African beliefs and ChristianityAfrican beliefs and Christianity