discovery age

Exploration of the Americas

Early European Exploration

  • First Europeans to Discover the Americas: Vikings

    • Laif Erikson and Erikson Red

    • Sailed from England to Ireland to Greenland.

    • Explored the coast of Greenland and Canada, possibly reaching Massachusetts.

    • Did not establish lasting settlements.

15th Century Exploration: Portugal

  • Prince Henry the Navigator

    • Established maritime explorations along the western coast of Africa.

    • Motivation rooted in economic desire and strategic expansion.

    • The transition from the Crusades to exploring new trade routes was influenced by the Ottoman Turks’ capture of Constantinople.

  • Bartholomew Diaz (1487)

    • Successfully reached the Cape of Good Hope but turned back due to his crew's reluctance to continue.

  • Vasco da Gama

    • Completed the first successful voyage from Portugal to Calcutta, India.

    • Highlighted economic motivations: found spices worth 60 times the cost of his voyage.

Economic Foundations for Exploration

  • Development of Capitalism

    • Emerged as a new economic model due to the need to finance expeditions and rapid movements of large sums of money.

  • Portuguese Slave Trade Origins

    • Initial trading of African people for European goods.

    • Small scale at first; full-fledged transport across the Atlantic began later.

Spanish Exploration

  • Christopher Columbus

    • Proposed to reach Asia by sailing west, got support from Spanish monarchs, Isabel and Ferdinand.

    • Ships: La Santa Maria (largest), inspired to sail into the Atlantic despite lack of technology.

    • Challenges faced: Limited ship supplies and crew reluctance to continue.

    • Discovered the Bahamas, mistakenly thought to be part of Asia.

    • Misunderstood indigenous populations underestimating their civilizations.

  • Ferdinand Magellan

    • First credited with circumnavigating the globe.

    • Experienced severe shortages of supplies, crew fatalities, and conflict with indigenous tribes.

  • Hernán Cortés

    • Conquered the Aztec Empire with a small force; used the misconception of being a god to his advantage.

    • Hired indigenous allies post-banishment to retake Tenochtitlan, mostly due to diseases that devastated the Aztec population.

Diseases and Their Impact

  • European Diseases

    • Devastating effects on Native Americans, as they had no immunity.

    • Smallpox was a primary cause of mortality; estimates suggest 80% of the indigenous population perished from disease, rather than violence.

Spanish Wealth and Economic Downfall

  • Gold and Silver

    • Massive influx of resources from South and Central America to Spain.

    • Example: The ship Atoka found in the 1990s contained gold and silver valued at $200-300 million.

    • The sudden abundance led to inflation within Spain and an eventual economic decline in the 1600s.

Shift in Power and Education during Exploration

  • Impact on European Politics and Society

    • Religious conflicts hindered French and English explorations in the 15th century, while Spain and Portugal, Catholic nations, dominated.

    • By the late 16th century, Elizabeth I's rule spurred English exploration.

    • Jamestown became the first substantial English colony in North America.

The Triangular Trade and Slave Trade Development

  • Slave Trade

    • Evolved from small scale in Europe to large-scale transport for plantation labor in the Americas, where demand grew due to decreasing Native American populations.

    • Increased tribal conflicts in Africa as groups sought slaves to trade for goods.

Technological Advancements in Navigation

  • Ship Design and Navigation Tools

    • Innovations such as the magnetic compass and astrolabe enhanced navigation.

    • Portuga's Caravel developed for explorations with advancements in sailing capabilities.

Columbian Exchange

  • Transference of Goods and Diseases

    • Introduction of European livestock and crops (cows, pigs, wheat) to the Americas.

    • Diseases from Europeans lead to significant loss of indigenous life.

    • Native American exports were minimal compared to European goods.

Summary of Key Notes

  • Exploration began with the Vikings, continued with significant contributions from Portugal and Spain, and transformed economic structures in the New and Old Worlds.

  • Key figures included Columbus, Magellan, Cortés, and the enduring impact of the Columbian Exchange and the onset of slavery.

  • The perseverance of the Spanish Empire gave way to other powers in North America, including English and Dutch explorations.

  • Key historical implications point to the interlinked fates created through exploration, exploitation, and disease leading to vast changes in global demographics and economies.