During the
Renaissance a time
period of learning a
book about India and
Asia by Marco Polo
was published. This
book inspired the
Italian Sailor
Columbus to search
for a new route to Asia
by traveling west
The King and Queen
of Spain sponsored
his voyage. After 30
days he landed in
what is now the
Caribbean mistakenly
thinking he was in
India. He referred to
the Taino as "
unsuspicious and
generous with what
they posses."
Columbus named the
Island San Salvador.
He made four
voyages claiming
parts of North and
South America in the
name of Spain still
believing it was India.
This triggered others
to explore the
Americas.
Columbus discovery
lead to the transfer
of people, plants,
animals, and
diseases, called the
Columbian
Exchange.
Europeans gained
many advantages
such as Corn,
potatoes, and land.
Native Americans
gained some new
trade networks but
in many cases
often died from
diseases such as
small pox, were
enslaving by
Europeans and
converted to
Christianity .
Due to the high
mortality rate of
enslaved Natives
the Spanish
imported slaves
from Africa to the
Caribbean to mine
gold and raise sugar
cane.
After Columbus, in
1519 Spain sent
soldiers called
conquistadors to
conquer the
America's and find
gold. Cortez was the
first to conquer a
group called the
Aztecs in the city
Tenochtitlan in
Mexico
Because he came with
500 soldiers, metal
armor, horses and
guns and the deadly
small pox many
mistook Cortez for a
God. The Spanish
were amazed the Aztec
lived in a floating city
in a lake with high
temples. .
The Spanish were
offended by the
Aztec's religious
rituals. Aided by
Native American
rivals they defeated
the ruler Montezuma
and defeated the
Aztec. They headed
North looking for
more gold.
Juan Ponce de Leon
discovers gold in
Puerto Rico. Then he
goes to La Florida to
find the fountain of
Youth in stead he is
killed by Native
Americans using
poisoned arrows. To
protect their claims the
Spanish built forts
called presidio. The
oldest European
settlement is the
Presidio St. Augustine.
Coronado goes from
Mexico city north to
find the rumored
Seven golden cities
of Cibola. Instead in
the South West he
finds seven villages
of Adobe cliff
dwellings.
In 1532, Pizarro
aided by small pox
conquered the Inca
empire in Peru. He
captured the ruler
Atahualupa and
held him for
ransom. When he
received the gold
and silver payment
he killed the ruler
and took over.
In the South West
from Florida to
California was the
Spanish Borderlands.
Spain sent
missionaries and
settlers to occupy
these areas and
protect them from
being claimed by
rival countries.
Missions were built and
run by Catholic Priests
in order to convert the
local Natives to
Christianity. The
missions relied on
farming. Native
Americans were
enslaved to work the
fields and whipped for
non Christian practices.
The two sides did
exchange knowledge.
Natives learned about
new tools, foods, and
sheep for wool.
Spanish learned
irrigation in dessert
regions. However,
slavery and disease
reduced the tribes
from 100 to 18 by 1700.
To compete with
Spain Jacques Cartier
tried to find the North
West passage.
Instead he claims
(Canada) New France.
France makes money
from valuable beaver
fur. Land was given to
rich nobles but the
harsh conditions
made it hard to farm.
Champlain creates the
trading post Quebec.
Mostly trappers or
coureurs de bois "
wood rangers" settled
in New France. He
makes the Huron his
business partners
even defends them
against the Iroquois.
Diseases kill many
Huron.
Marquette and Joliet
hoping to find the
North West passage
explore the Mississippi
river. Latter La Salle
claimed the land west
of the Mississippi in
the name of Louis the
XIV and named it
Louisiana.
John Cabot claimed
New Foundland off of
Canada in the name of
England. He brought
back fish and lumber.
Sir Walter starts the
lost colony of
Roanoke off the coast
of N.C. The first group
of settlers refuse to
fish and farm and
instead return home.
The second group
arrives too late to
plant crops. The
leader returns to
England for supplies
and can not return
for three years. When
he returns the only
thing they find is the
word CROATOAN
carved in a tree and
no sign of the
settlers.
In 1607 merchants
form the London
company and get
permission to start a
colony James town in
Virginia to find lumber
and furs.
144 settlers of crafts
men and gentleman
settle on a mosquito
filled swamp ,
surrounded by Power
Natives.
The settlers did not
want to work and the
natives were hostile
with settlers. John
Smith becomes
governor and makes
them work in order to
get food. He is
captured by the
natives. Before he is
killed he is saved by
Pocahontas the
daughter of Chief
Powhatan.
She brings peace
between the settlers
and natives. When
John Smith leaves to
England Indians
refuse to trade with
the settlers causing
starvation and death.
When Smith returns
50 of the 600 are left
alive.
New settlers arrive but
suffer Indian attacks.
Settlers kidnap
Pocahontas and hold
her hostage to end
Indian attacks on
settlers. Over the next
year she learns, English
and converts to
Christianity. John Rolfe
who successfully grew
the new cash crop
Tobacco marries
Pocahontas bringing
peace between the
settlers and Indians.
Sponsored by
merchants Hudson
explores a river Near
New York full of fish.
The River is named
the Hudson and the
territory is claimed as
New Netherlands. The
West India Trading
Company establishes
the profitable trading
post for fur on
Manhattan Island.
Peter Minuit the
governor buys
Manhattan Island for
iron pots, beads,
blankets, and $24
dollars. Due too their
beliefs about land
they laughed and
made the trade. The
Dutch also traded the
Iroquois guns for furs.
Peter Struyvsant
becomes governor.
Struyvesant renames
it New Amsterdam. The
colony becomes a
melting pot for Jews,
Africans, Swedish, and
Europeans. The
English decide to claim
the colony. The Dutch
give up without a fight
due to a lack of
gunpowder The
English name it New
York after the Duke of
York.
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