“O BRAVE NEW
WORLD!”
Chapter 6
PROGRAM OF STUDIES
OUTCOMES
• Knowledge and Understanding
• 8.2.4 critically examine the factors that shaped the
worldview evolving in western Europe during the
Renaissance by exploring and reflecting upon the
following questions and issues:
• In what ways were the Age of Discovery and the rise of
imperialism expressions of an expansionist worldview?
• In what ways did exploration and intercultural contact during
the Renaissance affect the citizenship and identity of
Europeans?
EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM
The Treaty of Tordesillas
• In 1494, the Pope proposed that Spain and Portugal sign a secret
treaty. The treaty divided up the lands of North and South America.
Spain got all the land west of this imaginary line and Portugal got
the lands to the east of this line.
• Both Britain and France ignored this treaty.
• Countries in Europe were using imperialism during this age of
exploration.
• Europe was extending its power over these newly founded
territories, resources and people.
TAKING CHARGE
• The imperialist attitudes of the
Europeans proved to be costly to the
indigenous people they encountered.
• The Spanish government allowed
people to mine for precious metals
(like gold) and use the indigenous
peoples to work for them. Millions of
people were worked to death.
IMPERIALIST TREASURE
• Spain became the richest country in the Europe for
many reasons: conquering the Aztec and Incan
empires, and the mines from Peru and Bolivia.
• Spain used large ships called galleons to transport
tonnes of gold back to Spain.
• England developed smaller and more
manoeuvrable ships that attacked the large
Spanish galleons. Once captured, the English
would steal their gold and bring it back to
England.
THE TERRIBLE COST OF
IMPERIALISM
• By 1600, less than 10% of the original populations of the
America remained.
• Historians estimate that up to 90 million people died.
• The indigenous peoples had no immunities to the diseases that
the Europeans brought like: smallpox, measles, influenzas and
the plague.
• In some cases entire tribes were wiped out.
TELLING THE INDIGENOUS
STORY
• The Spanish destroyed many of the original records, books and
monuments; as a result they were unable to tell their history.
EUROPEAN WORLDVIEW AND
IDENTITY
• During the course of the Renaissance, humanists opened
people’s eyes to the possibilities of human achievement. Not
only did Europeans develop a great appetite for knowledge,
they also hungered for riches and were eager to explore the
world to find them.
MAPPING CHANGING
WORLDVIEWS
• As a result of exploration, Europeans learned that there were
no monsters in the ocean. They found a sea route to Africa and
Asia. They also discovered North and South America.
• Portugal was the most powerful trading country in Europe and
Spain the wealthiest.
• Through imperialism, other countries like France, England and
The Netherlands gained a lot of power.
MAKING CONTACT
• Europe was fascinated when they heard that there were other
people in the world.
• Reports showed that the Indigenous peoples were closer to
nature, did not live in over-crowded cities and their
communities operated on principles of equality and sharing.
EXPANSIONISM AND
IMPERIALISM
• For the most part, Europeans saw themselves as superior to the
peoples of the Americas.
• From the European perspective they needed the resources
from the New World to fuel their economies in Europe and lead
to future expansionism.
• Unfortunately, the imperialist attitudes of Europe lead to many
deaths and devastation to the peoples of the Americas.
• European expansionism also led to the slave trade and use of
slavery.
CITIZENS OF THE WORLD
• Renaissance Europe has many influences on our world today:
• Ideas were spread by the printing press.
• Ideas created by humanism encouraged people to explore.
• Trade reached many people, from different parts of the world.
• Explorers travelled to most continents.
• Wherever the Europeans arrived, they imposed their religion,
ideas, values and economic system. This was their worldview.