Exploration & Colonization

1492-1673

In the late 1400’s European explorers began to sail and

chart the oceans of the world.

An Era of Exploration

In 1001, Viking sailors led by Leif Ericson reached North America. They left no permanent settlement.

Discovered in Norway in 1906, the Oseberg ship, the best preserved Viking ship ever found, reveals its Norse shipbuilders' graceful construction style.

Christopher Columbus

1492 – Made the Atlantic crossing with the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria.

He traveled for Spain, hoping to reach the East Indies by sailing across the Atlantic.

Instead, he reached the West Indies, islands in the Caribbean.

http://home.fuse.net/pearsonfamily/map.html

“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has

thought.”

Christopher Columbus, The Admiral who

changed the world

Lasting Impact of Columbus

His voyages marked the beginning of lasting contact between Europe, Africa, and Americas.

Devastated the Native American population.

Columbian Exchange: exchange of goods, ideas, disease, etc. between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Old World to New World New World to Old World

Diseases Smallpox, Measles, Chicken PoxMalaria, Yellow Fever, Influenza, The Common Cold

Syphilis

Animals Horses, Cattle, Pigs, SheepGoats, Chickens

Turkeys, Llamas, Alpacas, Guinea Pigs

Plants Rice WheatBarleyOatsCoffeeSugarcaneBananasMelonsOlivesDandelionsDaisiesCloverRagweedKentucky Bluegrass

Corn (Maize)Potatoes (White & Sweet Varieties)Beans (Snap, Kidney, & Lima Varieties)TobaccoPeanutsSquashPeppersTomatoesPumpkinsPineapplesCacao (Source of Chocolate)Chicle (Source of Chewing Gum)PapayasGuavasAvocados

Spain Builds an Empire

Balboa – crossed the isthmus of Panama and claimed the Pacific for Spain

Magellan – circumnavigated the globe.

library.thinkquest.org/ J002678F/balboa.htm

Diaries, stories, maps

Spanish conquistadors

Cortés – Conquered the Aztecs, killed their emperor Montezuma.

Pizarro – Conquered the Incas

De Soto – explored Florida and died looking for gold he never found

Coronado – claimed present day New Mexico and Arizona for Spain

Settling New Spain

3 settlements: pueblos, presidios, and missions

4 social classes: Peninsulares, creoles, mestizos, Indians

Encomiendas: land grants to Spanish colonists which included the right to demand labor or taxes from the Indians

Harsh Life for Native Americans

Indians forced to work in Spanish mines

Most die so Spanish seek other labor sources

Atlantic slave trade begins

Colonizing North America

Search for the Northwest Passage

Rivalries Among European Nations

The Protestant Reformation in 1500s divided Europe

Europeans settling in the Americas brought their rivalries with them (Example: Sir Francis Drake)

Francis Drake made a habit out of raiding the

Spanish treasure fleets. He brought gold and jewels home to England. When

the Spanish complained to Queen Elizabeth, she

knighted him “Sir Francis Drake”!

Sir Francis Drake

Why do you think he wanted to be painted with his hand on a

globe?

New France

Settled along the St. Lawrence River

Hunters and trappers (coureurs de bois – “runners of the woods”)

Established friendly relations with the Indians

Expanded down the Mississippi River

Most largely free of government control

New Netherland

Settled along the Hudson River around what is now New YorkEstablished a busy port.The Dutch and French became rivals in the fur trade.The Rivals established alliances with Native tribes, thus increasing warfare among the Indians, French, Dutch, and English.

Jamestown

The 1st permanent English settlement

Had a disastrous start

Thanks to the Indians, they survived

When colonists started growing tobacco, the colony got better. By 1620, England was importing more than 30,000 lbs of tobacco a year.

Signing the Mayflower Compact