Early Exploration 1492-1600

Reasons for Exploration

Prince Henry the

Navigator1. Son of King John I of

Portugal

2. Supported Portugal’s Exploration and Trade with Africa and Asia

3. Invented or encouraged the use of the Caravel and Astrolabe

4. Deathly afraid of water

Christopher Columbus

Background 1. Born in Genoa, Italy in

1451 2. An experienced sailor, and

cartographer (mapmaker) 3. Searched for faster trade

routes to India and China, other than the ones found in Marco Polo’s journals.

4. Originally asked the Portuguese for sponsorship in 1484.

Christopher Columubus

Columbus’s Journey 1. Columbus set sail on

8/3/1492 2. His ships were the

Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria

3. Columbus landed in the “New World” (Hispaniola and Cuba) on 10/12/1492

4. Columbus would make 4 journeys to the “New World” from 1492-1502, always thinking he’d made it to Asia

Reasons to Explore 3. Sought Glory by

bringing some of the natives and samples of the flora back to Spain.

1. Columbus came in search of Gold and riches to ship back to Spain.

2. Spread Christianity, (God) primarily Roman Catholicism with the blessing of Pope Alexander VI.

Spanish ExplorersExplorers

1. De Soto

2. De Leon

3. Cortes

4. Cabrillo

5. Coronado

6. Balboa

7. Pizarro

Area Explored Sails up the Mississippi River and

explores the Gulf of Mexico Explores Florida and searches for

the Fountain of Youth Conquers the Aztecs in Mexico Explores the Pacific Coast Explores Colorado Discovers the Pacific Ocean Conquers the Incas in Peru

Portuguese Exploration

Explorers 1. Diaz 2. da Gama 3. Cabral

Area Explored 1. East Coast of Africa and

Sails the Cape of Good Hope.

2. Circumnavigates the coast of Africa and explores India

3. Explores Brazil

Spanish; 56%Portuguese;

17%

French; 11%

English; 11%

Dutch; 6%

Exploration

The Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494

Spain: 1. Controls North and South

America except for Brazil.

Portugal: 1. Controls all of Africa and

Islands in the Caribbean and Brazil.

The Columbian Exchange

St. Augustine, FL 1565

1. The First Successful European Colony in North America.

2. It is the oldest continuous city in North America

3. Established Spain’s control of the east coast of North America, and acted as a base for Spanish Pirate raids in the Caribbean.

Social Pyramid in

Spanish Colonies

•The Spanish colonial organization was based on hierarchical structure, which placed the Spanish at the top of the colonial society.

•Mestizos were people made up of Spanish and Native cultures

•Native Americans and Slaves were at the bottom of the Social Structure.

The Mission System 1. To establish security for

its colonies, including its most valuable; New Mexico, Spain established the Mission System.

2. The Mission System was created by Fr. Junipero Serra

3. Missions were established along the frontier from California (San Francisco) to South Carolina.