Age of Discovery

Land Bridge

The first inhabitants of North America migrated from Asia as long ago as

22,000 years by crossing a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska that was

exposed during the earth's last Ice Age. For many thousands of years, these

groups spread throughout the continents of North America and South

America.

The Vikings

The Vikings were superb seafarers who raided and traded from their

Scandinavian homelands (Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark) across wide

areas of northern and central Europe, as well as European Russia, during the

late 8th to late 11th centuries. Records indicate that the Vikings established

communities on North Atlantic islands and as far as the northeastern coast of

North America 500 years before Columbus.

The tale of Vikings

having horns on

their helmets is

just a myth.

The Vikings Viking Fun Fact

Like the rest of the world at the time, the Vikings were very cruel. One of the ways they liked to

kill their enemies was by a hideous method called “the blood eagle.” The victim’s back was split

open and his blood-covered lungs were lifted out so that they flapped around like a pair of wings

as he struggled to take his last breaths.

Hoorah!!! What a

glorious death…

truly one worthy for

Valhalla.

Leif Erikson Settles in North America

According to historians, Leif Erikson’s successful expedition and establishment of a Norse

settlement at Vinland encouraged other Norsemen to also make the journey.

Unfortunately, the contact between the Vikings and the indigenous people resulted in hostilities

and killing. In the end, the Vikings returned home abandoning their settlements in Vinland.

Leif Erikson and a handful of Vikings are regarded as the first Europeans to

explore the North American continent on the northern tip of Newfoundland

in modern-day Canada around A.D. 1000, nearly 500 years before

Christopher Columbus.

The Crusades (A.D. 1095 to A.D. 1291.)

Council of Clermont

Wars fought to retake the Holy lands (Palestine or the birth place of Christ.)

Muslim Turks threatened the Byzantine Empire (Christians) and the

Byzantine emperor appealed to Pope Urban II for help.

At the Council of Clermont in 1095 Pope Urban II summoned western

Christians to go to the Byzantine Empire's aid.

Pope Urban II believed that

a fight against a common

enemy would to reunite a

divided Christian Europe.

The Crusades Failed But...

The Crusades failed but... Introduced a new way of life to Europeans.

•Discovery of new spices.

•Fine jewelry.

•Silk (material used for clothing.)

•New medicines found.

•Perfume (rich people loved it.)

Fine jewelry New spices

New medicines

Silk

Perfume

Trade Routes (From Asia to European Markets)

The World Known to Man Before the Age of

Exploration

Myths on the High Seas

Explorers and their crews were terrified by the

idea that the oceans were full of sea monsters

Early explorers were fearful of voyaging too far from the coastline from fear of disappearing off

the face of the earth.

Reasons for European Exploration

G- GOLD G- GOD

G- GLORY

Hartman Astrolabe

(1532) Better Maps

Mariner’s Compass

New Maritime Technologies

Sextant

Portugal Begins the Race for Exploration

Portugal sought a route around the African continent in an attempt to

outflank the Muslim states of North Africa which controlled and barred or

charged heavy fees to cross over their lands.

Prince Henry the Navigator rarely

participated in explorations, but he sent

many expeditions from Portugal to the west

coast of Africa, and was responsible for

Portugal’s influence in the Great Age of

Exploration.

Bartholomeu Dias discovery in 1488 of the

Cape of Good Hope showed Europeans

there was a possible route to India around

the southern tip of Africa.

Vasco da Gama led the first expedition

that traveled from Europe to India by

sailing around Africa.

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus was an expert navigator from Italy who had a radical

idea to sail west to search for a western route to the Orient instead of around

Africa, but Columbus had no money and sought help from other countries.

Columbus’ Vision for Sailing West to the Orient.

Did You Know? The thriving citrus industry in Florida can thank

Columbus for its beginnings. On his second voyage to the Americas in

1493, Columbus brought citrus seeds to the West Indies. The citrus seeds

eventually made their way to Florida.

Columbus Rejected by Portugal

In 1485, Columbus presented his plans to John II, King of Portugal and

proposed that the king equip three sturdy ships and grant Columbus one

year's time to sail out into the Atlantic Ocean prove his theory. Unfortunately,

King John II of Portugal rejected Columbus’ request.

Da World.. Itsa not a

flat… but a rounda… like

mya head!!!

This guy is not

playing with a

full deck.

What part of NO! Don’t

you understand?

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella

of Spain

Spain Financially Backs Columbus

Finally in 1489, Columbus was granted an audience by the Spanish crown.

The voyage was approved by Queen Isabella of Spain, but had to wait until

Spain’s war with the Moors was over.

Interesting Okay…

but what’s

in it for us?

The Deal:

Columbus was granted three ships for the voyage by

Queen Isabella, the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria

as well as a crew obtained from Spanish prisons.

The world was bigger than he

thought!! About 6,000 miles more.

With the backing of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella I, Columbus

discovered the North American continent on October 12, 1492 claiming it for

Spain.

Columbus' First Voyage to the New World

The indigenous people he encountered, the Taíno, or

Arawak, were peaceful and friendly. Noting their gold ear

ornaments, Columbus took some of the Arawaks prisoner

and insisted that they guide him to the source of the gold.

Columbus thought

he had landed in

the East Indies he

had set out for and

called the

inhabitants of the

lands he visited

indios (Spanish for

"Indians.)

Returned to Spain a Hero

Returned to Spain a hero and his success triggered a great rivalry between

Spain and Portugal. Columbus returned to America with three more

voyages, but never found the same success as his first voyage.

•Columbus was also made

"Great Admiral of the Ocean."

•Appointed governor of any

and all lands he discovered.

•And given one-tenth of all gold,

jewels, and spices from those

lands.

When Columbus died in

A.D. 1506 he still

refused to admit that he

had reached a continent

previously unknown to

Europeans rather than

admit he was wrong

about reaching the East

Indies.

From the monarchs' investment of

$6,000 in Columbus's first voyage,

Spain had a return of $1,750,000 in

gold after only one century.

The New World Gets a Name

Amerigo Vespucci was another Italian explorer and even sailed on one

of Columbus’ voyages to the New World. Unlike Columbus, Amerigo

Vespucci realized that the area in which Columbus had landed was in

fact a “New World,” and not the Orient.

Mapmakers began to label these new lands on maps “America” in

Vespucci's honor.

The Spanish Explorers

The Way of the

The Spanish Arrived

The Spanish were the first to arrive and built a vast empire in the Americas.

The Spanish conquered Native American civilizations and robbed them of

large amounts of gold and silver. They dominated much of South America,

modern-day Mexico, and what eventually became Florida, New Mexico,

Arizona, and Texas.

Spain grew rich from New

World gold by robbing and

enslaving the Native populations

in the Americas.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Balboa claimed possession

of the Pacific Ocean for

Spain in 1513. The new governor of Darién

became jealous of Balboa because

of his fame and had him

beheaded for treason in 1519.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer and

conquistador who led the first European expedition to the

Pacific Ocean and discovered the "Narrow place,” the Isthmus

of Panama in 1513.

Ferdinand Magellan Portuguese explorer who was the first person to sail across the Pacific Ocean

and to circumnavigate the globe. Sailing under a Spanish commission, he

attempted to reach the Spice Islands. After crossing the Pacific, Magellan was

killed battling natives in the Philippines but two of his ships returned to Spain.

When Magellan reached what is now the Philippine Islands his Spanish

crew abandoned Magellan on shore as islanders approached and killed him.

Without a leader the crew set out to return

to Spain, but only one ship, the Victoria,

returned to Spain with only eighteen

survivors. The remainder of the crew died of

starvation and was eaten by the survivors.

The Aztec Empire

A sacrificial knife

The Aztec Empire was a very war-like society and fought wars to capture

prisoners who would later be sacrificed to their gods. The Aztecs always

believed the end of the world was near. That's why they scarified so many

people. They were trying to keep their gods happy so the god would postpone

the end of the world.

The Aztec Empire

Aztec Calendar Stone

Did You Know? The Aztec started Tenochtitlan on an

island in what was then Lake Texcoco. The site of

Tenochtitlan was a marshy, snake-infested land. However,

the Aztec were able to make the land flourish. They used

irrigation to grow crops. The also grew crops on “floating

gardens,” which they made by filling shallow areas of the

lake and securing the soil with trees. Tenochtitlan included

palaces, plazas, and pyramids. It also included ball courts

and a zoo. By 1520 the city was one of the largest cities in

the world in population.

Hernán Cortés

Spanish conquistador who is best known for the destruction of the Aztec

Empire in present day Mexico. On February 19,1519 Cortez left Cuba with a

force of 600 men. Upon landing, Cortez was greeted by the Aztecs who he

began to subjugate. He destroyed all resistance and destroyed the Aztec

capital in present day Mexico City.

.

The Spanish brought dogs and horses and weapons and many fighting men. They also had the help

of other tribes in the area, which had no idea how cruel Spanish rule would become. The other

tribes just wanted to get rid of the awful Aztecs.

Hernán Cortes

Hernan Cortes Mets Montezuma

When the Spanish arrived, normally they would have been captured and sacrificed immediately.

That's how the Aztecs did things. But, in the 1500s, when the Spanish conquistador, Hernan

Cortes, entered Aztec territory with a small band of his men, the Aztec misunderstood why they

were there. The Aztecs thought the Spaniards were sent by their god, Quetzalcoatl and stayed for

quite a while as guests of their emperor, Montezuma.

The Spanish did not act like gods. The longer the Spanish stayed in the capital city, the more

suspicious the Aztec leaders became of them. The Aztecs decided it was time for the Spanish to

leave. They did not want to kill them because they might be gods after all, but the Aztecs wanted

them to move along.

The Spanish had no

idea at first how lucky

they were to be alive

after they entered the

capital city. It was

because the Aztecs

believed they were

gods that they were

unharmed.

Hernan Cortes Seizes Tenochtitlan

Montezuma orders his followers to return to their

homes and lay down their arms. But, it was too late

the angry Aztecs blamed Montezuma for allowing

the Spaniards into their city stoned him to death.

The Aztecs fought back tenaciously, but it

was disease that actually defeated the

Aztecs. They had no protection against

simple childhood diseases like measles

that the Spanish brought with them.

Incan Empire of Peru

Machu Picchu

Incan brain surgery was primitive, but set

the way for modern brain surgery. Incans

believed migraine headaches were caused

by evil spirits and drilled holes in peoples

heads so the evil spirits could get out. What

they didn’t realize was that the holes

relieved the pressure from brain swelling.

Incan Empire Map

Francisco Pizarro

Atahualpa, the Incan Leader

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish explorer and military leader who conquered Peru. Pizarro was part of

many early explorations of the New World and was involved in the

colonization of Panama. When he found the Inca Empire in Peru he organized

a expedition of 180 men and destroyed the empire in 1531.

Atahualpa Kidnapped and Murdered by Pizarro

Instead of having to fight their way up the mountains Pizarro and his men were invited in the heart if

Inca territory. Not expecting any treachery, Atahualpa arrived with his council and was

immediately seized by Pizarro’s soldiers and kidnapped before the peace conference could even

begin. Atahualpa watched helplessly as his bodyguards were slaughtered in front of him.

Pizarro held him in captivity for over a year, and by doing gained control over much of the

empire. Eventually the Inca was considered too dangerous to leave alive so he was executed

on the trumped up charge.

Atahualpa was originally going

to be burned alive at the stake,

but after he converted to

Christianity, he was strangled

before the flames could get to

him.

Atahualpa arrived with his

council and was immediately

seized by Pizarro’s soldiers “If you will let me go,

Pizarro, I will fill up

this room with gold.”

After the ransom was

paid by the Incans,

Atahualpa was

murdered. Atahualpa arriving to the peace conference .

Spain Searches North America for Gold

Encomienda System

The encomienda system was used by the Spanish crown during the Spanish

colonization of the Americas to regulate Native Americans and to reward

individual Spaniards for services to the crown.

The Spaniards would extract tribute from the natives in the form of labor, gold, or other products.

Many natives were forced to do hard labor and subjected to extreme punishment and/or death if

they resisted. In the end it was nothing short of slavery. When the native population began

to die from diseases, overwork, or ran away the Spaniards began to import African slaves.

Spanish Take their Stolen Gold Sent Back to Spain

Spanish Gold: It’s hard to imagine the amount of gold that Spain took out of

Mexico and Peru. One report gives us some idea. On September 13, 1583, the

Spanish fleet arrived from “Spanish India” (Latin America). The boats carried

gold worth about $15 million in Spanish money. They left another million in

Havana because the load was too heavy for the ships. Imagine so much gold it

threatened to sink the ships.

Treaty of Tordesillas Neighboring Spain and Portugal became rivals over territories in the Americas

and threatened to go to war with each other to resolve the dispute.

The pope of the Roman Catholic Church intervened because he didn’t want

two Catholic countries going to war.

The pope took out a map and drew a line down through the Americas which

directed what parts of America went to either country.

Portugal received title to eastern South America (Brazil) and Africa.

Spain was given free rights to rest of the "New World."

The Roman Catholic Church

hoped to settle problem, but

England and France demanded

rights to the "New World."

*Reason why Spanish is the

dominate language in

Central and South America

while Portuguese is spoken

in Brazil.

Spanish Empire: Map

Columbian Exchange

The Columbian Exchange was the widespread exchange of animals, plants,

culture, technology, and communicable diseases between the Americas and

Europe following the voyage to the Americas by Christopher Columbus in

1492.

Affects of European Diseases

Another area of a major European impact on the Native Americans was the introduction of diseases such as

smallpox and cholera. The Natives' immune system was not prepared to fight those new diseases. The

traditional Native medicines did not work well against those diseases and some tribes were totally wiped out

by the sicknesses.

Many Native Americans succumbed to smallpox, whooping cough, and

measles. It has been estimated that diseases wiped out 75% of the Native

American population within 100 years after the first contact with Europeans.

Merci!

French Exploration of the New World

French Colonization of the Americas

The New World intrigued French rulers and their efforts in the New

World differed sharply from those of the Spanish or English. Unlike the

Spanish or English, the French were friendly toward the Indians.

Reasons why France explored North America:

•To find a waterway through North America.

•To deal in furs, not gold

•To Christianize Native Americans.

The France established trading posts near rivers to

support fur trade.

Famous French Explorers #1

Cartier (1534) Explored southeastern part of Canada and

found the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Champlain (1608) founded

Quebec.

Quebec

France's first successful colony in North America which rested along the shores

of the St. Lawrence River. Established in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain.

Famous French Explorers #2

LaSalle (1682) sailed down the

Mississippi River to the Gulf of

Mexico. Sought to prevent Spanish

expansion into Gulf of Mexico

region by establishing posts in the

Mississippi region (New Orleans

most important). Louisiana was

named in honor of Louis XIV.

Marquette and Joliet

(1673) Discovered the

Mississippi River and

claimed it for France.

New France Established

Located in Middle America from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi River.

French and the Fur trade

They were content with developing thriving commercial interests, especially

fur trading and fishing, rather than planting large permanent settlements.

French trappers shipped so

many pelts back to France

that they nearly extinguished

the beaver population in

North America.

The French took advantage of rivers and inland waterways to

control parts of the interior. France made great amounts of

money from the fur trade.

Jesuits

French missionaries, known as Jesuits played a key role in the New World

exploration. These Catholic missionaries ventured through remote areas of

America to convert Indians to Christianity.

Many tribes were wary of the Europeans and reluctantly allowed the

missionaries, whom they called the “black robes,” into their villages.

Some were brutally killed by Indians (although in the eyes of Indians,

Jesuits held up best to torture and were thus more respected)

England and Spain Clash

English pirates "Sea Dogs” led by Sir Francis Drake," attacked Spanish gold

conveys crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the Americas with stolen Indian

gold.

Sir Francis Drake

Spain Attempts to Invade England

King Phillip II of [Spain] notified Queen Elizabeth I [England] to halt this

unwarranted and treacherous piracy on the high seas. King Phillip II [Spain]

pledged war if Queen Elizabeth [England] didn't order a stop to the attacks

on Spanish ships.

Queen Elizabeth I doesn't punish Sir Francis Drake, but instead encouraged

him to continue with her blessing for a share of the loot.

Spanish gold continued to flow to England.

Elizabeth I of England, the daughter of Henry VIII set out to gain riches

for England. She was jealous of Spain's new found wealth.

King Phillip II of Spain was

devoted to extending Spanish

power and the Catholic religion.

Huhhh?

I don’t know

what you’re

talkin’ about.

The Spanish Armada

Naval force launched by Phillip II of Spain to fight England. The Fleet was

the largest of its time in the 16th century. The Armada was severely

damaged when it was attacked off the coast of England on August 7, 1588

and cut nearly in half by storms upon return to Spain, making Britain the

dominant sea power.

Concepts to Know:

What were the results of the Crusades?

What were the countries involved in early explorations?

What were the scientific progresses that encouraged world explorations?

What were the reasons for European exploration (3 G's)?

Why did the Spanish Conquer the Aztecs and Incas so easily?

What reasons did the French explore the New World?

What were the affects of European diseases on Native Americans?