Exploration, Colonization, and the Rise of the West

In 1491, before Columbus's voyage, Europeans had a different perception of America.
Vikings:
- Possible exploration parties landed in Canada.
- No significant effort to colonize North America.
- Evidence like rune stones were likely fake or explainable otherwise.
- Temporary shelters suggest short stays, not colonization.

Columbus wasn't the first to reach America, but his voyages led to a significant shift in European perception.
Early Colombian Exchange:
- New lands were initially seen as a series of islands, not new continents.
- Columbus sought a route to India.
- Columbus insisted he reached India, even after multiple voyages, despite evidence to the contrary.
- He never admitted he was wrong about the size of the earth or that he had not reached India.
The assumption persisted that a route through the landmass existed, but the islands seemed increasingly large.
Medieval European worldview:
- The world was considered much smaller than it is known to be today.
- North America's size was underestimated compared to Europe.

European colonialism was driven by exploration, not only racism and imperialism.
Desire to explore:
- Europeans were excited about a new world.
- Similar to today's fascination with science fiction and space exploration.
- Opportunity to discover unknown lands.
- Though negative impacts and mistreatment occurred, the initial focus was on exploration.

Columbus's voyages:
- He likely landed on Hispaniola.
- Brought back new plants, animals, tools, and trinkets to Europe.
Impact on Europe:
- Introduction of chocolate, previously unknown.
- Introduction of tobacco.
Impact on Americas:
- Introduction of cows, pigs, and horses.
- Horses had existed in North America thousands of years before, but had long since gone extinct.
- Exchange of corn and potatoes from the Americas for wheat from Europe.
Accidental introductions:
- Rats to the Americas.
- Raccoons to Europe.
  - Germany has a large raccoon population due to lack of natural predators.
Negative consequences:
- Diseases decimated Native American populations.
- Tobacco and sugar plantations led to the use of African slaves.

Europe gained immense power from access to new resources and wealth.
Competition:
- Religious disunity after the Protestant Reformation (1517) fueled political and economic competition.
Initial exploration funding:
- Columbus approached King John II of Portugal, who rejected the proposal.
- Spain then funded Columbus's voyage.
Papal intervention:
- King John's jealousy led to arguments with Spain.
- The Pope divided the world between Portugal and Spain.
Other European powers:
- With the rise of other religious authorities like Luther, the Pope's influence waned.
- England, the Netherlands, and France began colonizing North America.
- Russia colonized Alaska and Western Canada.
Competition and wealth:
- European powers fought over territory but also traded and profited.
- Smuggling was rampant, often tolerated if taxes were paid.
- British allowed the smuggling of Dutch tea, because they made so much money from taxes off of the tea merchants.
The American Revolution: British started lowering taxes on British goods because they didn't want Americans buying Dutch tea anymore (destroying the smuggling business). Therefore, the Americans got mad about that.

Colonization extended to Africa and the Pacific.
European nations expanded, grew wealthy, and gained power.
Shift in global power:
- Europe surpassed the Ottoman Empire and China in influence.
- China was cut out, and Japan isolated itself due to concerns about Christian missionaries.
- Japan only rejoined the world stage in the mid-1800s after The United States offered to give them the smallpox vaccine if they opened ports to The United States.
Europe became the dominant geographical force, shaping world history.
Wealth led to the ability to hire mercenaries, build strong armies, and exert political influence.
Even if one country has bad intentions toward another if one country offers money, it often makes the other country's bad intentions go away.
Influx of resources:
- Europeans imported silver and gold, not just resources.

The United States became a major power in the Americas by the end of the 18th century.
Constitution:
- The adoption of the Constitution in 1789 provided a centralized government.
Military strength:
- Victory against the Barbary pirates demonstrated America's strength.
Colonial ambitions:
- The United States began colonizing within North America and later expanded to Hawaii, Alaska, The Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.

Exploration and colonization led to the rise of the West, driven by wealth.
The West went from a backwater to a dominant force.
Impacts of Western civilization:
- Western history is inseparable from world history.
- World wars encompassed the entire world.
- Disparities between the global North and South are rooted in Western history.

Focus is on the impact of exploration and colonization on the rise of the West and not the events themselves.
Exploration brought wealth to Europe but caused harm to other regions.
This historical period shaped the modern world and the trajectory of Western civilization.
Assignments:
- Complete the quiz and discussion posts.
- Consider a research project topic for week three.