Spanish Exploration and Colonization of the Americas Slides # 1-4 What Motivated Spanish Exploration? The Spanish motivations for exploration and colonization can be summarized by the phrase “Gold, Glory, God”. Spanish Motivations for Exploration- The 3 G’s (Gold) “Gold” - Profit from trade Overland Trade routes to the East were largely controlled by powerful Muslim leaders and The Portuguese controlled many of the water routes from Europe. Both groups could prevent others from accessing trade routes or require payment of heavy taxes for usage. Products from Eastern countries such as spices and silk were an incredible source of profit and the Spanish (as well as other countries) did not want to be left out. Many began searching for alternative Trade Routes so they could benefit. - Actual gold The war to expel the Moors (Muslims) from the Iberian Peninsula had depleted the Spanish treasury. Once Columbus reported that there was gold to be found in the “New World”, the Spanish were eager to obtain it to rebuild their wealth. Spanish Motivations for Exploration- The 3 G’s (Glory) “Glory” - adventure, power, and national pride - As nations prospered they wanted to insure that they were more successful than their rivals. The Spanish were particularly concerned with besting England and Portugal. Individuals are eager to achieve fame and notoriety as well as the riches they can achieve from a successful expedition Spanish Motivations for Exploration- The 3 G’s (God) “God” The Spanish had recently completed the Reconquista, the effort to remove the Moors (Muslims). Catholic leaders were eager to help spread the faith and once explorers encountered Indians religious leaders saw an opportunity for converts. It was assumed at the time that Catholic representatives had the right and the responsibility to convert individuals unfamiliar with Catholicism and religious officials frequently accompanied explorers for this purpose. Once the Reformation begins, Catholic Spain viewed it as a responsibility to counter the spread of Protestantism. Slide # 5 Christopher Columbus The best known European explorer of the Americas is probably Christopher Columbus. Columbus sought support from various nations for an expedition beginning in the 1480s. There is some debate among historians about exactly what Columbus thought his expedition would accomplish. Many believe and he told the European leaders he was looking for a route to reach China and India by sailing West so that routes dominated by the Arabs and Portuguese could be bypassed. However there is some evidence that Columbus knew of or suspected that there were lands west of Europe that were separate from Asia that he wanted to find. In 1486 Columbus received a promise from the Spanish leaders, Ferdinand and Isabella, that once they had completed the Reconquista they would consider his proposal. When the final Muslim kingdom, Granada, was captured in 1492 and peace was declared Ferdinand and Isabella agreed to finance Columbus’ expedition. The Spanish rulers pledged three ships to his expedition. After any discoveries and claims were made, he would be given noble rank, the authority to rule all lands he claimed for the Spanish monarchs, and one-tenth of any profits. st 1 Voyage On August 3, 1492 the three ships (Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria) provided by the Spanish monarchs departed th carrying a crew of 90 men. On October 12 , 1492 the expedition encountered an island which Columbus began to call San Salvador. Most historians believe that it was one of the islands of the Bahamas. Columbus immediately claimed the land for the monarchs of Spain. He began to call the individuals the crew encountered Indians believing that he had reached Asia which Europeans referred to as the Indies at the time. Following a shipwreck off the coast of Hispanola in Dec. 1492, Columbus established a fort he called La Navidad and left 39 men behind to search for gold and returned to Spain. He kidnapped close to 25 Indians to bring them back to Spain along with gold and other “exotic items” to show the Spanish monarchs. Only 7 or 8 of the Indians arrived alive. Upon his return Columbus was given a title of nobility, Admiral of the Ocean Sea, and made Viceroy, “under king”, of the Indies. Ferdinand and Isabella ordered him to make a second voyage. nd 2 Voyage A fleet of 17 ships with some 1,500 crew members, soldiers, and colonists left Spain on September 25, 1493. When the expedition reached La Navidad, Columbus discovered that the fort had been destroyed and the men killed by the Indians, whom it is believed the colonists had mistreated. He established another colony, Isabella, on the north coast of Hispaniola, closer to a rumored source of gold. Investigators sent by the Spanish court had reported unfavorably on the administration of the Columbus brothers of the colony. Columbus returned to Spain in June 1496, to defend himself. Despite having failed to establish a stable colony, he was able to persuade the king and queen to sponsor a new voyage and send more colonists. rd 3 Voyage In May, 1498, he set sail with eight ships. He found the colony, which was under the leadership of his brother Bartholomew, struggling. Complaints about Columbus and Bartholomew continued to be brought before the Spanish monarchs by colonists who returned to Spain. In 1499 Columbus was removed as governor and replaced by Francisco de Bobadilla. The new governor was determined to end the unrest. He ordered Columbus and his brothers arrested and sent to Spain for trial because he felt they were obstructing his attempts at effective governance. Ferdinand and Isabella pardoned Columbus for any wrongdoings but refused to reinstate him as governor. For two years, he petitioned them to sponsor another voyage. They finally agreed on the condition that Columbus would not return to the former colony. th 4 Voyage Columbus set out from Spain in May 1502, in command of four ships. He continued to search, in vain, for a direct passage from Cuba to Asia. Two of his ships had to be abandoned, and finally, in June 1503, the other two ran aground in what is now Jamaica. Columbus remained there until the spring of 1504, when two relief ships arrived. Columbus arrived back in Spain in November 1504. He died in 1506. Your Columbian Exchange Short and Long Term Effects Chart should go here. Slide # 6- Legacy of Columbus- The Columbian Exchange Effects of Columbus Columbus is not the first European to explore the Americas and given the millions of inhabitants of the Americas it is not historically accurate to say he discovered them however he is significant because his voyages gave rise to an era of European domination of the world and saw the spread of European religious, political, and economic ideas to all parts of the earth. Some important consequences of Columbus’ voyages include: 1) “Columbian Exchange” - The Columbian Exchange- the global transfer of foods, plants, animals, etc. occurring after the age of th - exploration initiated by the voyages of Christopher Columbus in the late 15 century Introduction of new crops/animals/diseases into the Americas/ “the New World”/ the Western Hemisphere from Europe/African/Asia/ “the old World”/ the Eastern Hemisphere 3/5 of crops grown around the world today had their origins in the Americas - New foods brought back to Europe fuel population growth Slide # 7- Legacy of Columbus- Impact on Europe 1) Imperial Rivalry Treaty of Tordesillas- 1494 The Treaty of Tordesillas, approved by Pope Alexander VI in 1494, separated the Americas in two spheres as a way to prevent conflict between Spain and Portugal, the two dominant powers of the 15th century. Spain acquired the right to discover and conquer everything from Brazil westward, while Portugal's sphere of influence encompassed everything east of Brazil. According to Pope Alexander VI God would punish individuals from other countries for trying to colonize in what had been decreed as Spanish territory. Despite the Treaty, many other European countries became very interested in exploring the Americas. Other monarchs began hiring explorers to sail west in the years following Columbus’ initial voyage. 2) Change in European Mindset - With Columbus voyage, Europeans were forced to recognize that their world was simply not what they thought, it was literally bigger than they had imagined and there were millions more people in it than they had thought possible. It caused elites to question their sources on knowledge and faith and represented the beginnings of challenges to the Catholic Church’s power. In the aftermath of Columbus we see the beginnings of the Scientific Revolution in which European scholars begin to challenge long held beliefs. We also see the Protestant Reformation. - Medieval/ Early Renaissance mindset of elites had been focused on antiquity and the great civilizations of the past- Greek, Egyptian, Roman, etc. Many had felt mankind could only repeat the achievements of earlier civilizations. Columbus’ voyage however seems to cause a shift in thinking where individuals believed future generations could improve upon early civilizations and rise to new levels of greatness. 3) Changes to the European Diet American crops like corn and potatoes were easier to grow than older European crops and their introduction allowed for an increase in food supply and a resulting decrease in hunger. With greater amounts of food available we see an increase in Europe’s population, recouping some of the losses from the Black Death. 4) Economic Changes The influx of gold and silver to Spain (and country’s that engaged in piracy) from the Americas provided a jolt to the European economy. On a positive note this allowed for greater trade but it also had negative consequences for some countries, particularly Spain which experienced rapid inflation and eventually economic collapse. Slides # 8 and 9- Legacy of Columbus- Effects on Indians - One of the biggest effects of Spanish contact with Indians was the introduction of disease, chiefly smallpox but also plague and influenza, to which Indians had no immunity. This led to quickly spreading epidemics that resulted in mass population losses. Disease spread so quickly that most Indians died before ever seeing a European. Many historians believe that losses due to disease amount to 90% of the pre-Contact population of the Americas. As an example, the Indian population of Hispanola, one of the areas of early Contact by Columbus, was estimated to be close to a million before October 1492. By 1500 the Indian population of Hispanola was 500. The Spanish, while maybe not understanding germs and disease immunity, did seem to understand that contact with new populations often resulted in those new groups experiencing higher death rates. The Spanish also viewed high rate of native deaths as a blessing from God. Some historians have speculated that the high death rate of Indians was the single largest factor allowing Europeans to dominate the Western Hemisphere. - Another major effect of Spanish contact on Indians was the beginning of racial based slavery and forced labor in the Americas. While Indian groups had practiced slavery it was usually a condition that resulted from loss in war and was not a system where individuals of a certain race were targeted for slavery while those of another race were elevated to the status of master or ownership of other human beings. Upon encountering the Taino and Caribs on his first voyage Columbus wrote his journal that they would make “good servants”. The Spanish initially set up a tribute system whereby Indians would have to provide a certain amount of gold in a given time period, usually every three months. Once Indians had met the demand they would receive a token to wear around their necks. Any Indian found without a current token would be punished, usually by having their hands cut off. The tribute system satisfied Spanish desires for gold and forced Indians to labor for the Spanish for sometime however it was replaced by the Encomienda system in 1501, which more directly resembles slavery. The encomienda system was designed to reward those who had worked on behalf of the Crown with Indians “commended”, or given, to colonists who promised to try to convert them to Christianity and could use them for labor. The Encomienda system was not ended until the 1700s. Another forced labor system was known as the Repartimiento where Indians were assigned a certain number of days per month that they were expected to work for a Spanish master. Northern New Spain was very sparsely populated, very poor, and isolated from the rest of the Spanish Empire. This led the Spanish to adopt a strategy of trying to assimilate Indians already living in these northern areas to Spanish culture. Documentary- Legacy of Columbus- The Conquistadors Your Spanish Conquistadors Chart and Minorities in New Spain Chart should be here. Slide # 10 Life in New Spain- Spanish Society and Culture Spanish Social Structure - Very few women sent to New Spain so intermarriage with Indians was common. By the early 1700s the majority of the population in New Spain was mestizo or of mixed Spanish-Indian parentage. This resulted in a rigid caste system in New Spain with pure Europeans (known as peninsulares) occupying most of the bureaucratic and leadership positions, as well as controlling most of the wealth in New - Spain. According to Spanish law only peninsulares could hold political office however most communities ignored these regulations. Catholic Church The spread of Catholicism was a critical part of Spain’s mission in the Americas. After Columbus’ initial voyage, religious officials always accompanied conquistadors. - - - The adoption of the Requiremiento in 1513 told Indians that if they submitted to the authority of God and King, they would not be harmed. Countless orders from Spanish monarchs called on colonial officials to insure that the Indians were being exposed to Catholicism Spanish adopt the mission system in their colonies. Small groups of monks/ priests would establish a mission near an Indian village. Indians would be brought to the mission to be exposed to Catholic teaching, and “encouraged” to adopt Spanish cultural practices. Indians would also provide labor at the mission. Spanish law forbid the settlement of non-Catholics in Spanish colonies. Protestants, Jews, Muslims, or others would be subject to expulsion or persecution if they were discovered living in Spanish territory. Settlement Patterns Spanish authorities wanted to create a feudal system, much like had been used in Europe during the Middle Ages. Colonists (and Indians) were expected to report to the settlement/mission and remain there and follow orders for the rest of their lives. Needed official permission to travel or set up new settlements. Settlers have very limited to non existent rights. A patron was given command over an area and colonists were expected to give him their loyalty. Patron provided jobs, looked out for widows and children and sponsored religions festivals. Slide # 11 Life in New Spain- The Economy Spanish imperial policy forbid colonists from engaging in manufacturing activities and required that all imports be conducted via an official channel. Texans weren't allowed to import or export goods from their own GulfCoast but rather from Veracruz, Mexico. Chief economic activity was related to agriculture, particularly ranching and the cattle industry. Tradition of the cowboy was actually a Spanish invention. About 2,000 people a year sailed to Mexico and Peru from Seville, the only Spanish port allowed contact with the New World. Slide # 12 Life in New Spain- Politics In 1535, King Charles I of Spain( Charles V of HRE) divided the areas Spain ruled over in the Americas into two viceroyalties. Charles appointed a viceroy to rule over each of the areas in his name. The viceroy was in charge of enforcing royal law/edict, collecting taxes, commanding the army, and protecting the Catholic Church. The Viceroy reported to the Council of the Indies in Spain which reported to the King. A system of royal courts, or audencias, was also created at this time. Judges who served in the audencia oversaw the viceroys to insure they were in compliance with royal law and were collecting taxes appropriately. Viceroyalty of New Spain- Mexico, West Indies, and North America Viceroy- Antonio de Mendoza Slide # 13 Life in New Spain- Settlement and Imperial Rivalries Spain’s wealthiest settlements like those in the Caribbean and Mexico attracted the largest number of settlers. Areas in the present day American Southwest were more sparsely populated and Spanish officials adopted a policy of trying to “convert” Indians, not only to Catholicism but into loyal Spanish citizens. These efforts had mixed success. As other European countries began moving into North America the Spanish sought to establish settlements in North America to serve as buffer zones and to protect their wealthy colonies further south from encroachment by other powers. In 1564 when French Huguenots (Protestants) tried to establish Fort Carolina near present day Jacksonville, FL the Spanish quickly established a settlement at St. Augustine, Florida and attacked Fort Caroline and executed the French they found there. This makes St. Augustine the longest continually inhabited European settlement in the U.S. The Spanish planned for St. Augustine to be the first in a series of forts, or presidios stretching from Florida through the Southeast and Southwest to Mexico. Also in the 1560s the Spanish tried to establish a settlement in what would become Virginia near where the English colony at Jamestown was founded but ultimately the settlement was abandoned because it was too far away for supplies to travel and clashes with Indians led the Spanish to fall back towards Florida. In 1598 Don Juan de Onate took a party north of Mexico to establish a settlement at Santa Fe, New Mexico. His group encountered resistance from the Pueblo Indians, which Onate put down with brutal force, order that all Pueblo men have their right foot removed, and enslaved the entire tribe. While the Spanish founded isolated missions further north than Santa Fe and Saint Augustine, those were their only two settlements of any real size in what would become the United States for much of the colonial period. Slide # 14 Life in New Spain- Relations with Spain Spain tightly regulated its colonies. Only the port of Seville was allowed access with the New World Colonies. Spanish monarchs issue regulations about conduct in colonies however these laws were often ignored or unenforced. Slide # 15 The Black Legend Spain's enemies created an enduring set of ideas known as the "Black Legend." Propagandists from England, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands vilified the Spanish as a corrupt and cruel people who subjugated and exploited the New World Indians, stole their gold and silver, infected them with disease, and killed them in numbers without precedent. The Black Legend provided powerful ideological sanction for English involvement in the New World. By seizing treasure from Spanish ships, staging raids on Spanish ports and cities in the Americas, and enlisting runaway slaves known as Cimarons to prey on the Spanish, Protestant England would strike a blow against Spain's aggressive Catholicism and rescue the Indians from Spanish slavery. But it is a pointed historical irony that the very English seamen, like Drake and Hawkins, who promised to rescue the Indians from Spanish bondage, also bought and enslaved Africans along the West African coast and transported them to Spanish America, where they sold them to Spanish colonists. To counter the negative image presented by the Black Legend, the Spanish began to circulate their own stories of colonization that enhanced the positives of contact. These positively biased accounts are often referred to as the “White Legend”. Slide # 16- The End of Spain’s Dominance Spain was the dominant power in the Americas thanks to their support for Columbus and the protection of the Pope in the Treaty of Tordesillas but by the late 1500s there were signs that Spain was losing its monopoly on colonization of the Americas. The Protestant Reformation which began in 1517 and spread throughout Europe meant that for the first time not all western European leaders were Catholic and therefore not all of them felt compelled to obey the Treaty of Tordesillas which had been issued by the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. While the wealth the Spanish were able to obtain from the Americas was astronomical, Spanish rulers, particularly Philip II spent foolishly in his quest to wipe out Protestantism in England and the Netherlands. He launched expensive campaigns against the Netherlands, which were a Spanish colony and against England in an attempt to depose Protestant Elizabeth I and replace her with her Catholic cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. This led Philip to build a massive naval fleet known as the Spanish Armada which he sent on a mission to invade England in 1588. Despite being the dominant naval power at the time and outnumbering the English, the Armada failed largely due to poor weather conditions. Philip’s high spending on religious wars wasted much of the wealth he was receiving from the Americas. Other nations capitalized on Spain’s weakness and began to seize Spanish ships full of gold and silver from the Americas, adding to Spain’s financial woes. As Spain continued to decline other Catholic nations, such as France, began to ignore the Treaty of Tordesillas and colonize in the Americas.
© Copyright 2024 Paperzz