Ch.2, Sec.1 – Spain Claims an Empire

South America North & Central America

Ch.2, Sec.1 – Spain Claims an Empire

- In A.D. 1493, Pope Alexander VI created an invisible line called the “Line of Demarcation”, which gave Portugal access to lands East of the line & Spain to the west

Ch.2, Sec.1 – Spain Claims an Empire

- In A.D. 1494, both countries signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, which moved the line 800 miles to the west, giving Portugal access to more lands

Ch.2, Sec.1 – Spain Claims an Empire

Spain and Portugal Compete

- after the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed, both countries increased their voyages of exploration

- European countries had three goals during their explorations: 1. spread Christianity beyond Europe

2. expand the size of their empires3. become wealthier countries

- Europeans used an economic system called mercantilism to allow colonies to help their empires become wealthier

Ch.2, Sec.1 – Spain Claims an Empire

mercantilism: an economic system in which nations increase their wealth and power by obtaining gold and silver, and by establishing a favorable balance of trade

Which nation becomes wealthier from this transaction?

Spain!

Ch.2, Sec.1 – Spain Claims an Empire

Europeans Explore Foreign Lands

- Amerigo Vespucci reached South America & realized it was not a part of Asia

- a German mapmaker realized the importance of Vespucci’s voyages and named the lands he discovered “America”

- the 1st explorer to reach the Pacific Ocean was a Spaniard named Balboa

- in A.D. 1519, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was the 1st to sail around the world

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Magellan’s Route

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The Invasion of the Americas

conquistador: Spanish soldiers responsible for conquering & claiming American lands for Spain

- in A.D. 1519, Hernando Cortes set his sights on conquering the Aztec Empire

- Aztec ruler Montezuma II welcomed Cortes, but soon disliked his intentions for working with the Aztec people

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- Montezuma II ruled from the city of Tenochtitlán which was the capital of the Aztec empire

- the Aztec empire was eventually conquered by Cortes in A.D. 1521

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Aztec Capital of Tenochtitlán

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- In A.D. 1531, Francisco Pizarro marched into Peru and conquered the Incas and their leader, Atahualpa

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- the Spanish were able to defeat the Native Americans because of 3 important factors:

1. Diseases brought from Europe (smallpox, typhus, cholera, measles)

2. Superior soldiers & weapons (armor, guns)

3. Alliances with Native Americans who were enemies of the Aztecs & Inca

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Other Spanish Explorers

- from A.D. 1539 – 1542, Spain sent three expeditions into North America looking for “cities of gold” (El Dorado, Cibola)

- famous explorer, Coronado, traveled through Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico looking for gold