Christopher Columbus sailed west from Spain in 1492 hoping to find a trade route to Asia but instead landed in the Caribbean islands, claiming the region for Spain and beginning European exploration and colonization of the Americas. Subsequent explorers like Vasco da Gama and Amerigo Vespucci further mapped the globe while conquistadors like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro conquered powerful civilizations in Mexico and Peru, extracting gold and silver that enriched Spain. European diseases also devastated the indigenous populations who had no immunity, making conquest easier.

1. European Exploration of the Americas Christopher Columbus – Italian Ship Captain - Believed he could open a trade route to Asia by sailing west - Underestimated the actual distance to Asia (by 5000 miles) Convinced Isabella and Ferdinand, the Spanish monarchs, to support his voyage in 1492 – three ships Nina, Pinta, & Santa Maria

2. Columbus (cont’d) After 10 weeks (Aug. 3 – Oct. 11) the expedition reached the islands of the Caribbean Sea Columbus claimed the region for Spain and began the Spanish conquest of the New World Columbus completed four voyages in all, never accepting that he had reached a new land mass, not Asia. Christopher Columbus never acquired the fortune or fame for which he had hoped and only became celebrated long after his death. - Columbus opened the Americas to European exploration and colonization

3. Columbian Exchange – a transfer of living things between the New & Old Worlds (East and West Hemispheres)

4. Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) - Pope Alexander IV’s effort to keep the peace between Spain and Portugal as they explored new territories - The north-south dividing line gave authority to colonize most of the Americas to Spain (except for Brazil) and gave Portugal authority in Africa.

5. Portuguese Explorers Bartolomeu Dias Nobleman-explorer who was the first European to sail around the southern cape of Africa in 1488 Vasco da Gama - Military captain and explorer who was the first European to sail around the southern cape of Africa and reach India (1497-1499)

6. Amerigo Vespucci - Italian explorer who exaggerated his role in discovering and exploring the Americas given credit for the idea of the ‘New World’ – a land mass between Europe and Asia mapmakers appear to have used his name to label the new continents

7. Explorers – bypassing North America John Cabot – (1497 & 1498) – searched for the Northwest Passage, exploring the Atlantic coast of Canada & claimed the coast of North America for England Ferdinand Magellan’s Expedition (1519-1522) – sailed around South America and his expedition was the first to circumnavigate the globe (Magellan died en route & only 1 of 3 ships made it)

8. Conquistadors – Spanish Conquerors of the New World Guns, Steel, Horses – material advantages of the Europeans Disease was the leading reason why the American Indians could not resist the Spanish. - European diseases killed as much as 90% of the American Indian population.

9. Spanish Conquistadors Juan Ponce de León (1513 & 1521) – claimed Puerto Rico and explored, claimed, & named Florida Vasco Nuñez Balboa (1513) – crossed Panama, first European to see the Pacific Ocean, & claimed all land touching that sea for Spain Hernándo Cortés (1519-1521) – conquered the Aztecs and Montezuma in Central Mexico, claiming gold and beginning the mining of silver

10. Francisco Pizarro (1532) – conquered the Incan Empire on the west coast of South America, claiming tons of gold & silver Hernándo DeSoto (1539-1542) – explored the American Southeast looking for gold, was the first European to see Alabama and the Mississippi River

11. Francisco Coronado (1540-1542) – explored the American southwest looking for cities of gold, first to see the Grand Canyon and herds of buffalo

12. Encomienda – Spanish system of enslaving the American Indians Mestizos – people of Spanish and American Indian ancestry Gold & Silver enriched Spain & Europe – economic growth, but eventually ruined Spain’s economy with price inflation and debt

13. St. Augustine (1565) Spain founded the first permanent European city in what is now the U.S. (on the Atlantic coast of Florida). It was formed to protect Spanish treasure ships from French Buccaneers and English Seadogs (pirates/privateers).