Notes on European Exploration and Colonization

Technology for Exploration

  • Europeans needed technology to sail safely across oceans, acquiring it from Asia and the Middle East.

    • Key technologies included:

      • Astrolabe

      • Lateen sails

      • Star charts

      • Magnetic compass

      • Improved ships (Caravelle, Carrick, Flute)

  • Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal:

    • Updated existing technology and created a school for maritime studies.

    • The school focused on navigational technologies, shipbuilding, and sailing techniques.

    • The Caravelle was invented which could sail longer distances and carry more cargo.

    • Later ship designs like the Carrick and Flute also sailed farther and carried more cargo.

    • Understanding of ocean and wind currents was developed to aid navigation.

    • Cartography (map making) was advanced, compiling maps from various regions.

Motivations for Exploration (1450-1750)

  • Competition between Portugal and Spain, driven by:

    • The "Three Gs": Gold, God, and Glory.

    • Economic competition, seeking trade routes to China and South/East Asia. To get spices, silks, porcelain from those regions.

    • Desire for historical recognition.

  • The Ottoman Empire's Blockade:

    • The Ottomans blocked the Silk Road trade through Constantinople, disrupting European access to Asian goods.

    • Europeans sought alternative routes to avoid high prices for luxury goods.

  • Objectives:

    • Portugal aimed to sail around Africa to reach India and South Asia.

    • Spain sought a direct route across the ocean to China. In the process came across the Americas.

    • Spices were the most valuable commodity.

Dividing Trade Areas

  • Portugal gained trade access to Africa and the Indian Ocean.

  • Spain gained trade access to the Pacific and China.

  • England and France joined later, exploring primarily in North America (Canada, East Coast, 13 Colonies).

Columbian Exchange Impacts

  • The Great Dying: Devastation of Native American populations due to diseases like smallpox.

  • Population Growth: Increased in Europe and Asia (especially China) due to more diverse foods.

  • Impacts to Native Americans:

    • Introduction of the horse, making some tribes more nomadic and changing hunting/warfare practices.

  • Diverse Diet:

    • Introduction of corn and potatoes leads to better nutrition.

    • Meeting of cultures: African, European, and Native American.

    • Syncretic religions development.

  • Development of Triangle Trade: driven by sugarcane production which then led to the Atlantic slave trade.

Triangle Trade

  • Europe: Manufactured goods.

  • Africa: Slaves.

  • The Americas: Raw materials.

Spanish Empire

  • Conquistadors: Destruction of Inca and Aztec empires in the early 1500s.

  • Encomiendas:

    • Large estates owned by Peninsulares (Spanish settlers).

    • Two main goals: to civilize and convert indigenous populations to Christianity.

    • Were abusive and were shut down due to deaths from disease.

  • Haciendas:

    • Large farms and ranches replaced the Encomienda system. They are known to be less abusive to the workers.

    • Bartholomew, a Catholic priest, reported abuses to the King of Spain, leading to the system's shutdown.

Mita System

  • A labor system taken from the Inca. Conquered all of South America except Brazil.

    • Originally, it was Incan tax paid labor.

    • Spanish took the Mita system and used it for their purposes, especially in silver mines like those in Peru.

    • Eventually became like slavery.

  • Continuity: The Mita system represents a continuity from Incan practices.

  • Encomiendas were a continuity of manorialism (medieval Europe) with Peninsulares replacing lords and Native Americans replacing serfs.

Portuguese Empire

  • Focused on plantation systems, especially for sugarcane.

    • Required a large labor force. Used native Americans first but they died off from disease or being overworked.

    • Then they tried to use Europeans via indentured servitude, which did not work out.

    • Then they fell on African being the best kind of labor source they can find and use. Coerced labor (chattel slavery).
      *State Sponsorship and Economic Systems:

    • Spain and Portugal’s colonies were state-sponsored, leading to mercantilism.

    • Mercantilism: Colonies send goods to the mother country which then sends back manufactured goods, keeping trade within the empire.

Joint Stock Companies

  • English and Dutch colonies used joint stock companies, made up of investors. Privately owned, no government interference.

    • Reduced risks, attracting investors and increasing profits.

    • Allowed trade with any colony, promoting early capitalism.

Effects of Atlantic Slave Trade

  • Fueled by Triangle Trade and mercantilism.

  • African kingdoms traded slaves for guns from Europe.

    • Led to increased warfare, economic dependence on slave trade, and unbalanced gender ratio (more women than men).

Resistance

  • People resisted slavery/slave trade, European expansions, and political centralization.

  • Examples:

    • Anna Nzinga resisted the Portuguese from trying to enslave people with gunpowder weapons.

  • Three Reasons:

    • Resisting Slavery

    • Resisting European Expansion

    • Resisting Political Centralization