European Exploration IB History SL

Portugal and Spain

  • Portugal

    • Prince Henry the Navigator, Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama initiated exploration.

    • Landholdings: Brazil (discovered by Pedro Cabral).

  • Spain

    • Unified under Ferdinand and Isabella’s Reconquista (1492).

    • Explorers:

      • Christopher Columbus: 4 voyages to the “West Indies” (search for gold, forced labor of natives).

      • Ferdinand Magellan: Led first circumnavigation (1519).

      • Conquistadores (e.g., Hernán Cortés overthrew Aztecs, 1520; Francisco Pizarro overthrew Incas, 1531).

    • Key Advantages: Superior weaponry, epidemics, alliances, lucky timing.

    • Requerimiento: Declaration of sovereignty over natives and land.

Spanish New World Landholdings

  • Regions:

    • West Indies: Columbus’ proving grounds.

    • Latin America: Most of South America (except Brazil).

    • North America:

      • Vasco Núñez Balboa: Pacific Ocean.

      • Francisco Coronado: Grand Canyon.

      • Juan Ponce de León: Florida.

      • Hernando de Soto: Southeast U.S.

  • Viceroyalty of New Spain (1521):

    • Monarch’s authority represented by viceroys, governors, and noble authorities.

    • Administrative roles:

      • Audiencias: Justice system.

      • Treasury officials: Oversaw tributes and taxes.

    • Social Structure:

      • Peninsulares: Spaniards born in Spain.

      • Creoles: Spanish-born parents, born outside Spain.

      • Mestizos: 1 Spanish, 1 Native parent.

      • Mulattoes: 1 Spanish, 1 African parent.

      • Africans/Natives: No Spanish blood.

    • Cultural Impact: Emphasis on “Spanish” lifestyle.

Spanish America

  • By 1640: Hundreds of cities and towns, ~160,000 settlers.

  • Key Settlements:

    • Mexico/Peru: Initial clusters.

    • North America:

      • St. Augustine, FL (1565): Fort to protect Caribbean interests.

      • Santa Fe, NM (1610): Focus on conversion due to little wealth.

    • Key Events:

      • Battle of Acoma (1599): Suppression of Pueblos.

      • Pope’s Rebellion (1680): Pueblo uprising; Spain reclaimed NM, treated natives better.

Labor Systems

  • Repartimiento: Forced labor in silver mines and plantations.

  • Mita: Inca labor system adapted by Spanish.

  • Encomienda: Indians as part of land grants (akin to slavery).

  • Catholic priests worked to Christianize natives (e.g., Bartolomé de las Casas advocated for indigenous rights, 1542).

Consequences of Gold and Silver

  • Indigenous population devastation; rise of African slavery.

  • Global trade (silk, spices, porcelain, tea).

  • Silver became world currency.

  • Treaty of Tordesillas (1494): Papal decree divided the New World between Spain and Portugal.

“Black Legend”

  • Reports (e.g., de las Casas) highlighted Spanish atrocities.

  • Promoted by rival nations (e.g., England) to justify their own colonization.

England

  • Exploration:

    • John Cabot (1497): North American coastline.

  • Religious Conflict:

    • Protestant Reformation: England delayed colonization.

    • Elizabeth I’s era: Goals were to spread Protestantism and gain wealth.

  • Colonization:

    • Roanoke (1585): Vanished colony.

    • Defeat of Spanish Armada (1588): England gained naval dominance.

    • Joint-stock companies financed ventures.

    • Jamestown (1607):

      • Founded by the Virginia Company of London.

      • Harsh conditions (e.g., “Starving Time” 1609-1610).

      • Leadership: John Smith and Lord De La Warr.

New England

  • Pilgrims (1620): Massachusetts, faced hardships (half died in the first winter).

  • Relations with Natives:

    • Alliance with Wampanoags (e.g., Squanto, Massasoit).

    • English expansion displaced natives (e.g., Pequots massacred).

    • King Philip’s War (1675-1676):

      • Metacom (King Philip) led resistance.

      • English dominance solidified after his death.

France

  • Colonization:

    • Samuel de Champlain (1608): Quebec, allied with Hurons.

    • Focused on fur trade and fish industries.

    • Catholic missionaries (e.g., Jesuits) lived among natives.

  • Expansion:

    • Detroit (1701), Louisiana (1682), New Orleans (1718).

    • Conflicts with England culminated in French and Indian War.

Dutch (Honorable Mention)

  • Henry Hudson (1609): Explored Hudson River.

  • Manhattan purchased in 1624; became New Amsterdam (later surrendered to British in 1644).

Big Consequence of Exploration

  • Columbian Exchange: Biological and cultural exchanges between Old and New Worlds.