This document summarizes early European exploration and colonization efforts beginning in the 15th century. It discusses key explorers like Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and their voyages of discovery. It also outlines the conquests of the Aztec and Incan empires by the Spanish, led by conquistadors like Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro. Furthermore, it examines the establishment of European colonies in the Americas and the devastating impacts on indigenous populations, including the trans-Atlantic slave trade that transported over 10 million Africans to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries.

2. Earlier ExplorationsEarlier Explorations
1. Islam & the Spice Trade 
Malacca
2. A New Player  Europe
Nicolo, Maffeo, & Marco Polo, 1271
Expansion becomes a state
enterprise  monarchs had the
authority & the resources.
Better seaworthy ships.
3. Chinese Admiral Zheng He & the
Ming “Treasure Fleet”

3. Admiral Zheng HeAdmiral Zheng He
1371-1435
Each ship was 400’
long and 160’ wide!

4. A Map of the KnownA Map of the Known
World,World,
pre- 1492pre- 1492

5. Motives for EuropeanMotives for European
ExplorationExploration
1. Crusades  by-pass intermediaries
to get to Asia.
2. Renaissance  curiosity about other
lands and peoples.
3. Reformation  refugees &
missionaries.
4. Monarchs seeking new sources of
revenue.
5. Technological advances.
6. Fame and fortune.

6. New Maritime TechnologiesNew Maritime Technologies
Hartman Astrolabe
(1532)
Better Maps
[Portulan]
Sextant
Mariner’s Compass

7. Zheng HeZheng He’’s Voyagess Voyages
In 1498, Da Gama reached
Calcutta, China’s favorite port!

8. Christofo ColonChristofo Colon [1451-[1451-
1506]1506]

9. ColumbusColumbus’’ Four VoyagesFour Voyages

10. Ferdinand Magellan & theFerdinand Magellan & the
First Circumnavigation ofFirst Circumnavigation of
the World:the World:
Early 16Early 16cc

11. Atlantic ExplorationsAtlantic Explorations
Looking forLooking for ““El DoradoEl Dorado””

12. Fernando CortezFernando Cortez
The First SpanishThe First Spanish
Conquests:Conquests:
The AztecsThe Aztecs
Montezuma IIMontezuma II
vs.vs.

13. The Death of MontezumaThe Death of Montezuma
IIII

14. Mexico Surrenders toMexico Surrenders to
CortezCortez

15. FranciscoFrancisco
PizarroPizarro
The First SpanishThe First Spanish
Conquests:Conquests:
TheThe
IncasIncas
AtahualpaAtahualpa
vs.vs.

17. TheThe ““Columbian ExchangeColumbian Exchange””
 Squash  Avocado  Peppers  Sweet Potatoes
 Turkey  Pumpkin  Tobacco  Quinine
 Cocoa  Pineapple  Cassava  POTATO
 Peanut  TOMATO  Vanilla  MAIZE
 Syphilis
 Olive  COFFEE BEAN  Banana  Rice
 Onion  Turnip  Honeybee  Barley
 Grape  Peach  SUGAR CANE  Oats
 Citrus Fruits  Pear  Wheat  HORSE
 Cattle  Sheep  Pigs  Smallpox
 Flu  Typhus  Measles  Malaria
 Diptheria  Whooping Cough
 Trinkets
 Liquor
 GUNS

18. Cycle of Conquest &Cycle of Conquest &
ColonizationColonization
Explorers
Conquistadores
M
issionaries
PermanentSettlers
Official
European
Colony!

19. TreasuresTreasures
from the Americas!from the Americas!

20. Trans-Atlantic SlaveTrans-Atlantic Slave
TradeTrade

21. The Slave TradeThe Slave Trade
1. Existed in Africa before the coming
of the Europeans.
2. Portuguese replaced European slaves
with Africans.
Sugar cane & sugar plantations.
First boatload of African slaves
brought by the Spanish in 1518.
275,000 enslaved Africans exported
to other countries.
3. Between 16c
& 19c
, about 10 million
Africans shipped to the Americas.

22. Slave ShipSlave Ship
““Middle PassageMiddle Passage””

23. ““CoffinCoffin”” Position BelowPosition Below
DeckDeck

24. African CaptivesAfrican Captives
Thrown OverboardThrown Overboard
Sharks followed the slave ships!Sharks followed the slave ships!

25. European Empires in theEuropean Empires in the
AmericasAmericas

26. Impact of EuropeanImpact of European
ExpansionExpansion1. Native populations ravaged by
disease.
2. Influx of gold, and especially
silver, into Europe created an
inflationary economic climate.
[“Price Revolution”]
3. New products introduced across
the continents [“Columbian
Exchange”].
4. Deepened colonial rivalries.

27. 5. New Patterns of World5. New Patterns of World
TradeTrade