2.1 Portuguese Exploration and Spanish Conquest - U.S. History _ OpenStax

Learning Objectives

  • By the end of this section, you will be able to:

    • Describe Portuguese exploration of the Atlantic and Spanish exploration of the Americas, and the importance of these voyages to the developing Atlantic World.

    • Explain the importance of Spanish exploration of the Americas in the expansion of Spain’s empire and the development of Spanish Renaissance culture.

Portuguese Exploration

  • Prince Henry the Navigator: Led Portuguese exploration of Africa and the Atlantic in the 1400s.

    • Supported mariners navigating eastward to Africa, establishing a foothold for trade.

    • Launched a trade empire in the 15th and 16th centuries.

  • Colonization:

    • Portuguese mariners colonized the Canary, Cape Verde, Azores Islands, and Madeira.

    • Used these outposts for subsequent journeys, extending control over maritime trade routes.

  • Global Trade and Slave Trade:

    • Spread empire to the Congo in Africa, west coast of India, and Brazil.

    • Entered the African slave trade to supply labor for sugar plantations; enslaved Africans were exported along with ivory and gold.

    • Established the initial framework for the Atlantic slave trade, where sugar became the primary commodity.

  • Elmina Castle (1482):

    • Built by Portuguese in present-day Ghana as a fortified trading post.

    • Initially focused on trading gold, shifted to enslaved Africans by the 16th century.

    • Dungeon served as a holding pen for enslaved people bound for the Americas.

Spanish Exploration and Conquest

  • Early Settlements:

    • Spanish established first European settlements in the Americas beginning with the Caribbean, expanding into Central and South America by 1600.

    • Notable explorers included Christopher Columbus, Hernán Cortés, and Francisco Pizarro.

  • Unification of Spain:

    • Marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile in 1469 unified Catholic Spain, enhancing its global power.

    • Reconquista: Completed in 1492, securing Spain from Islamic rule and paving the path for overseas expansion.

  • Columbus's Exploration:

    • Columbus believed he could discover a westward route to India and approached several monarchs for funding.

    • After rebuffs, he gained support from Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492, resulting in his initial voyage with three ships.

    • Landed on the Bahamas and named native Taínos "Indios," mistakenly believing the islands were part of the East Indies.

  • Probanzas de Méritos:

    • Columbus's reports to the Spanish crown spurred interest and engagement with the New World.

    • Despite fabrications, these reports illustrated expectations of wealth and a lack of perceived resistance from native peoples.

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

  • Papal Decrees:

    • Issued by Pope Alexander VI to settle land claims between Spain and Portugal following Columbus' discoveries.

    • Treaty established a north-south line through South America, granting Spain lands west of the line and Portugal lands east.

  • Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire:

    • Hernán Cortés explored Mexica territory; captured Moctezuma and clashed with native peoples, taking advantage of existing dissent and diseases like smallpox.

    • Noted for forming alliances with Tlaxcalan villagers dissatisfied with Aztec rule, crucial to besieging Tenochtitlán in 1521.

    • Spain's narrative depicted superiority over indigenous cultures, although it masked the complexities of local rivalries and diseases.

Pizarro and Further Exploration

  • Francisco Pizarro:

    • Captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa and founded Lima in 1533.

    • Like Cortés, faced competition from other Spanish explorers leading to internal strife in his pursuits.

  • Hernando de Soto:

    • Explored southeastern United States (1539-1542) seeking wealth, although he ultimately found little and died during the expedition.

  • Francisco Vásquez de Coronado:

    • Led expeditions in northern Mexico and now southwestern US between 1540-1542. His journey did not yield vast riches, leading to his financial ruin.

The Spanish Golden Age

  • Impact of Riches from the Americas:

    • Influx of gold and silver contributed to a cultural flourishing known as the Siglo de Oro (Golden Age) in Spain.

    • Supported the arts, resulting in significant works, including Cervantes's Don Quixote and masterpieces by painters like Diego Velázquez.

  • Cultural Developments:

    • Artists from abroad and native Spaniards produced notable art, fostering a vibrant cultural environment.

    • Velázquez's Las Meninas exemplifies the interplay between artist, subject, and viewer in royal portraiture.