Explorers & the Americas

Explorers & the Americas

by Brandi Rowland

Europe's "Why?"

Origins of European exploration in the Americas (video) | Khan Academy

You can open this webpage in a new tab.

Copy link

Open in new tab

​Europe in 1450 before Columbus:

• In 1450, Europeans knew other parts of the world existed.

• ​Europeans were involved in trade with China, the Middle East, and Africa.

• ​Trade routes were expensive because they took a long time.

• They needed a cheaper route.​

• ​Not everyone believed the world was flat.

• ​Christopher Columbus convinced Spain to pay for him to explore with the hope of finding a new, cheaper trade route.

Poll

In Christopher Columbus's time, why did Europeans send out explorers?

• To find new places with 

• To find new routes to make trade easier and cheaper

• To find new land to colonize

• To spread religion

Multiple Select

In the year 1492, what did Christopher Columbus do?

• Discovered land in the Americas

• Sailed the Ocean Blue

• Sailed to the Americas looking for new trade routes

• Became the first European to make contact with Native Peoples in the Americas

​Christopher Columbus

​Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who went to many different countries in Europe asking that they finance (pay for) his mission to find new trade routes. Finally, the King and Queen of Spain said yes. In August 1492, he sailed WEST and landed in the Americas in October 1492. When he went back to Europe with the news of his discovery, word quickly spread.

• ​Columbus's exploration and contact with the native people of the Americas opened the door to European exploration of the Americas

• ​He "paved the way," with this Columbian Exchange

• ​Today, we know he committed horrible atrocities against the peoples in conquered

  ​Historical theories of his voyages have changed over time. Celebrated vs. exposed now?

• ​Europeans brought disease and enslaved people, but also brought technology and new plants/animals to be used.

• ​The population of the conquered countries severely decline

• ​The reduced population introduced the need for more labor.

​What did Columbus do???

Poll

Was Columbus a good thing or a bad thing?

• Good

• Some bad but mostly good

• Mostly bad but some good

• Bad

Multiple Select

Why did native populations decline?

• They had no immunity to European diseases.

• Their patterns of life including agriculture were messed up.

• They were mistreated and killed by the European conquerers.

• All of these are true.

​The Mayans

• ​About 3000 years ago

• ​Complex calendar system based on astrology

• ​Developed complex writing system

• ​Built cities with pyramids and flat tops that were temples

• ​Society disappeared, and we don't know why

The Aztec Empire (1300-​1521) in present-day Mexico

​The Aztec Empire

• ​Highly organized group of Mesoamericans (Middle American) natives

• ​Intricate society socially, religiously, & commercially

• ​The main city-state was Tenochtitlan

• ​The ruins of Tenochtitlan become present day Mexico City

• ​Enslaved people they conquered

Multiple Choice

Was the Aztec Empire successful before European Explorers made contact with them?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Was the idea of enslavement new to the Aztecs when the Europeans arrived?

• Yes, the Aztecs never enslaved people

• No, the Aztecs already enslaved those they had captured in conquering

• I don't know, we haven't talked about that

Multiple Choice

We know African slaves were eventually brought into Latin America and the Caribbean while the Europeans ruled, but why do you think they were needed?

• Africans wanted to leave Africa to seek better jobs.

• We have no clue as to why this happened.

• Europeans treated the natives very well, but the healthy population wasn't enough. More labor was needed, so slaves were introduced.

• Europeans brought diseases and killed natives in the area they conquered, so more labor was necessary.

​What Happened to the Aztec Empire?

• ​The Aztec Empire fell to Hernando Cortes in 1521

• ​The Aztec Empire was the last great Native American society

• Say hello to Hernando Cortes.​

​Hernan Cortez

• ​Spanish Conquistador

• ​Led expeditions to explore and gain riches from Middle America

• ​Two years after his arrival, he and his army defeated the Aztec Empire

• ​​Allied with some indigenous people & gained a lot of power

  Took control of Tenochtitlan & built Mexico City on its remains

​Why Would the Aztecs ally with Cortes?

• ​ Tenochtitlán was powerful and situated on a man-made island

• Other city-states had to pay tributes to trade with them

• ​Sometimes humans were sacrificed religiously

• Other Aztecs resented their power

• The resentment allowed Cortes to make friends with some other city states

Multiple Select

Cortes allied with some of the Aztec city states that had to pay taxes and otherwise "serve" the powerful city-state of Tenochtitlán. Why was this possible?

• The other city states likely wanted to challenge the power of Tenochtitlán.

• Other city states thought 

  Tenochtitlán was too powerful.

• Cortes likely promised other city states that he'd help them to become powerful.

• Cortes's power looked promising to the other city states' future.

Multiple Select

Who ruled the main city state of Tenochtitlán when the Spanish arrived in 1519?

• Montezuma II

• Moctezuma II

• Cortes

• Columbus

​Moctezuma II

• ​Last Aztec Emperor

• ​The Emperor when Cortes arrived in 1519

• ​Welcomed Cortes at first because he thought he was an Aztec God

• ​Placed under house arrest by Cortes

• ​Cortes tried to rule "as him"

• ​Things spiraled out of control

• ​Killed or allowed to die by Spanish

Multiple Select

After Moctezuma II's death, what else could have weakened the Aztecs?

• European disease like smallpox

• Spanish technology like sophisticated guns and weapons

• European's desire to control the gold and silver at all costs

• Trusting Europeans to help them

​Central America & Latin America under Spanish Rule

• ​Life in Mexico was transformed

• Spanish ​Catholic priests converted many to Catholicism

• ​Natives were forced to work on farms

• ​Spain brought in African slaves to this area when the native peoples died out

• ​Spain ruled this area for 300 years

Multiple Choice

Mexico, Central America, & South America (except Brazil) mainly speaks....

• Many different languages

• Spanish

• English

• French

​The Inca Empire

• From present day Ecuador to ​Chile

• ​1400s--1530

• ​Conquered by the Spanish

• ​Major civilization with military strength and emperors

• ​Long history of emperors

• ​Civilization built in the "Andean region"

​Incan Empire

• ​"Tawantinsuyu" was the name of their empire

• ​From modern day Argentina to southern Colombia

• ​Civilization divided into four "suyu

• ​Machu Picchu is an Incan archeological site

• ​Incans resisted Spanish for years, but fell

Multiple Choice

Machu Picchu is one of the Inca's most famous...

• sites that still exists in part

• document

• suyu (or one of the four divisions)

​Machu Picchu

​This is an ancient city that once was part of the Incan Empire. It is made up of about 200 structures built in the Andes Mountains. Archeologists have no clue what the structures were for. However, there is evidence of roads, trails, irrigation canals, and areas for farming. It looks like humans used this site for a very long time.

​Characteristics of the Incans

​

• ​Worked hard at diplomacy and tried to get their rivals to surrender peacefully before using force

• ​Animism and human sacrifice

• ​Mummification

• ​"Day of the Dead" / "The Maiden"

• ​Labor for food due to no currency

​Incan Characteristics

• ​Their ancient language

  Incan traditions are still alive

• No money/No standard currency

• ​Cuzco (capital) was too high for the Spanish & changed it to Lima

• impressed the Spanish

  • ​Large cities

  • ​Organized cities​

​Francisco Pizarro

• ​Spanish conquistador

• ​Known for conquest of Peru and executing their leader

• ​Formed an alliance with a fellow soldier who later killed him

Multiple Choice

Pizarro is known for...

• the conquest of Peru and killing their leader

• the conquest of the Aztecs

• the conquest of the Incas