This document discusses European imperialism in the Americas beginning in the 15th century. It describes how Christopher Columbus' discovery of the Caribbean and South America led other European powers like Spain and Portugal to explore and claim territories in the region. The Treaty of Tordesillas divided control of the newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal. European powers viewed indigenous peoples as inferior, fueling exploitation and destruction of native empires and cultures through slavery and forced labor. Imperialism supported the establishment of colonies and trade networks but came at tremendous human and social costs for indigenous populations.

1. Chapter 6
“O Brave New World!”

2. Imperialism
What is imperialism?
The extension of power over a territory,
including its resources and people
Or, getting permission to take over land and
anyone or thing that is on it.

3. European Imperialism
Christopher Columbus was the first explorer to
reach South America and with that came the
imperialism of a new world.
Though he may not have directly taken over the
land, it was because of his discovery that North
and South American were eventually
imperialized.
It was because of his discovery of all the riches
the land had to offer that many more explorers
came to these areas.

4. The Treaty of Tordesillas
It was Portugal and Spain that really started the
exploration of the western continents.
They sent out people to find new routes to Asia.
Columbus thought he discovered the sea route to Asia
for Spain, but what he really found was the Caribbean.
Portugal had heard about this and felt that they
deserved a share of the riches coming from this part of
what they believed to be Asia.

5. The rulers of Spain could not come to an agreement
over the trade route and goods so, in 1494, the pope
urged them to sign a secret treaty.
This was known as the Treaty of Tordesillas.
The purpose of this treaty was to divide the New World
between Spain and Portugal.
Spain got the west and Portugal got the east.
They followed an imaginary line.
When other European countries heard about this treaty
they were enraged.

6. England and France ignored the terms set out in the
treaty and sent their own explorers across the North
Atlantic to find new territories.
It was King Henry VII of England who sent
Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) to North America.
Caboto was sent their to “subdue, occupy and
possess all such towns, cities, castles...”
Essentially, the king told Caboto to Imperialize
whatever he discovered.
The overall goal of the expansionist worldview
(imperialism) was to help the countries gain power
over all territory, resources, and people that they
came across.

7. Taking Charge
What caused this imperialist attitude?
It was partly a result of having an ethnocentric
view towards the indigenous people they found
in this new territory.
In the new area that Columbus discovered, that
they called New Spain, the indigenous people
were enslaved and forced to work for the
Spanish
The literally worked millions of people to death
in the silver mines and fields.

8. The Terrible Cost of Imperialism
Two thriving civilizations were destroyed within
a few years when the Spanish arrived in South
America.
The Inca, and Aztec empires were destroyed
by the Spanish.
They were forced to work, and had their culture
stolen from them.
More to come in the next unit.

9. Telling the Indigenous Story
Most of the written records of these two empires
were destroyed.
The Spanish destroy their cities and
monuments, and burned thousands of their
ancient books.

10. Expansion and Imperialism
Europeans saw themselves as superior to the people of
the Americas.
This fuelled their drive for imperialism.
They saw nothing wrong with what they did because,
from their perspective, they needed the resources to
support the European colonies.
They also needed the land to support the colonies they
needed because of over population.
Having this attitude allowed them to ignore the rights of
the Indigenous and First Nation peoples to their
traditional lands.

11. An expansionist worldview also contributed to
the establishment of trade in African slaves.
They had an ethnocentric view to the slaves
as well, which made them the perfect people
to do the work for Europeans.
It was English merchant traders who typically
captured and brought African men, women,
and children to the Americas.
When they arrived, they were sold to plantation
owners who needed labourers.