The Atlantic World Chapter Four 1300s-1800s The Age of
Exploration What was the Age of Exploration?
A time period when Europeans began to explore the rest of the world
How was this possible? Improvements in mapmaking, shipbuilding,
rigging, and navigation made long voyages possible Why do European
countries explore? Policy of mercantilism drives exploration
Finding new trade routes and trading partners were paramount What
is mercantilism? Policy that stated there was a limited amount of
money (gold and silver) in the world Each country needed to grab
what they can before it is gone Export more than you import in
order to create a favorable balance of trade Colonies and markets
were needed to keep everything in the system Why did explorers
explore?
Many reasons Some reasons include: To find a sea route to the
spices of Asia To find gold, silver, and precious stones To expand
their knowledge of the world To control a larger empire To expand
Christianity To find animal furs Gold, God, and Glory! The
Explorers Portugal Vasco de Gama Ferdinand Magellan
Landed in India in 1498 Established an important trade route from
Europe to India and the East Indies Ferdinand Magellan His crew
completed the first circumnavigation of the world in 1525 Magellan
was killed in the Philippines Voyage of Vasco de Gama Magellans
Voyage The Explorers Spain Christopher Columbus
Believed he could reach the Indies faster by traveling westfound
North America instead Established the Columbian Exchange A massive
exchange of goods, plants, animals anddiseases Exchange between New
and Old Worlds Columbian Exchange The Struggle over the New
World
European countries fought for control of the New World and its
natural resources New World provided for opportunities for great
wealth Colonizing European powers: France England Spain Portugal
Struggle Turns to Conflict
England wanted more land in the New World First defeated the Dutch
Dispute over lands in the Ohio Valley led to a war in 1754 This
began the Seven Years War with France The battle in the New World
was known as the French an Indian War The Conquistadors Spain
Hernan Cortes in Mexico
Able to defeat the mighty Aztec Empire Used superior weapons,
allies, and disease 96% of the Aztec population died from From 25
million to less than 1 million Cortes and the Aztecs Montezuma
believed that Cortes was a god
Invaded Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1520 Was aided by Malinche
a native woman translator The Conquistadors Francisco Pizzaro in
Peru
Arrived in South America in 1532 Defeated the Incan Empire (80,000
soldiers) Ambushed and kidnapped the Incan ruler Received a ransom
then strangled and killed him anyway Pizzaro and the Inca Incan
ruler was Atahualpa
Spanish ambushed unarmed Incan soldiers and captured Atahualpa
Pizarro was offered a room full of gold and silver, which he
accepted The Spanish then strangled Atahualpa The Death of
Atahualpa Francisco Pizzaro Europeans in North America
Italian Giovanni de Verrazano discovered New York Harbor 1607 -The
English settle Jamestown in Virginia Englands 1st permanent
settlement Frenchman Samuel de Champlain founded New France Today
it is Quebec Henry Hudson finds the Hudson River Claims Manhattan
Island for the Dutch The Atlantic Slave Trade
Europeans needed slave labor in their colonies to grow crops, mine,
etc. Native Americans were used, but many died due to disease Death
rate due to disease was extremely high Africans replaced the
Natives as the main source of slave labor for the Europeans
Completely changed the trade relationship between Europe and Africa
The Atlantic Slave Trade Timeline
Spain and Portugal began the trade s Slave Trade grows dramatically
1690 England increases the Slave Trade 1870 The Atlantic Slave
Trade ends Atlantic Slave Trade Effects
Begins a system of Triangular Trade Africa, Europe, and Americas
all participate African rulers and traders made deals with
Europeans for slaves Introduction of guns into African continent
Western African economy and empires crumbled Slaves are transported
through the Middle Passage Triangular Trade The Middle Passage The
Middle Passage The Slave Ships Once in the New World
The captain could be a tight or loose packer Tight meant slaves
would be placed lying on each other Typically 20 percent or more
Africans would die on the way to the New World Disease,
malnutrition, beatings, suicide Once in the New World Slaves were
auctioned of to the highest bidder This could easily separate
families Slavery was a life-long condition, as well as hereditary
The Middle Passage Slavery in the New World
Slave Resistance Slaves tried to keep their cultural heritage
Musical traditions Ancestral stories Slave Rebellion Often broke
tools or worked slowly Many ran away Numerous revolts throughout
the years The Growth of Global Trade
Economic systems of Europe drastically changed Colonial empires
that stretched through multiple continents led to a new business
and trade practices Capitalism Joint-Stock Companies What is
Capitalism? Economic system based on private ownership and the
investment of resources, such as money, for profit Economic system
where things are owned by people or an individual, not by a
government Profits allow individuals and businesses to become
extremely wealthy, not just the government What is a Joint-Stock
Company?
A business in which a number of investors combine their wealth for
a common purpose Very similar to a modern-day corporation Early on
in the s the purpose was colonization Overseas colonies were very
expensive, but could be very profitable Changes in European
Society
Exploration and colonization led to an economic growth and boom in
Europe Spurred the growth of towns and cities Rise of the merchant
class with great wealth European nations became very wealthy Power
monarchs increased greatly Majority of Europeans still remained
poor and rural THE END
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