The Atlantic World
1492-1800
Key Themes
• Cultural Interactions
– Interaction between European states
– Native interactions with European states
• Economics
– Mercantilism
– Triangular Trade
• Empire Building
– The Establishment/Destruction of various
European and Native Empires
Christopher Columbus
• Made four voyages to
the Americas
• Voyages evolved over
time
• What is the controversy
surrounding
Christopher Columbus?
The Voyages of Christopher Columbus
First Voyage
• Explorer
• Sought alternative trade
route to Asia
• 3 ships used
• Encountered the Taino
people
• Sought gold and other
riches
Second Voyage
• Empire Builder
• Second Voyage (Empire
Builder)
• Sought to establish an
empire for Spain
• 17 ships
• Over 1,000 soldiers and
colonists
Columbus’s Voyages
Colonization
• The establishment of colonies
• Lands that are controlled by another, generally
stronger nation
• Colonies used to support a nation
• How could foreign lands support a strong
nation?
Amerigo Vespucci
American continents
named after him
Sailed down the coast of
South America
Ferdinand Magellan
• Led first expedition that
sailed around the world
• Magellan’s crew made it
around the globe
• He was killed in the
South Pacific
Spanish Conquistadors (Conquerors)
• Hernan Cortes
• Conquered the Aztec
Empire in 1521
• Francisco Pizzaro
• Conquered the Incan
Empire by 1533
Fall of the Aztec Empire
• Last Ruler: Montezuma
II
• Could not match
Spanish weapons
• Other natives aligning
with Spanish
• Disease (Smallpox)
Fall of the Incan Empire
• Last Ruler: Atahualpa
• Captured and held
hostage by Pizarro
• Ransom of gold and
silver paid
• Strangled
• Empire without
leadership falls apart
Spain’s Pattern of Conquest
Reconquista
• Imposed Spanish culture on
the natives
• Often intermarried
• Produced a Mestizo
population
– Mixed Spanish and Native
population
Encomienda
• Spanish work system
• Natives mined, farmed, and
ranched land controlled by
the Spanish
• Oppressive system
The Encomienda System
Other Spanish Explorers
• Juan Ponce de Leon
– Explored Florida
• Francisco Coronado
– Explored present day Arizona, New Mexico, Texas,
Oklahoma, and Kansas
Spanish Explorations
Spanish Empire
• Spain claimed a HUGE
empire in the Americas
• Various raw materials
including gold and silver
brought Spain great
wealth
Opposition to Spanish Rule
• Bartolome de Las Casas
• Dominican Monk
• Criticized the actions of
Spain on encomiendas
and treatment of
natives
Pope
• Native leader in today’s
New Mexico
• Led an organized
resistance against
Spanish
Human Cost
• Spain carves out an
immense empire in the
Americas at a huge
human cost
• Millions of natives lost
their lives
– War
– Disease (more deadly)
Two Legacies
• Other European states would attempt
explorations and empire building in the
Americas
• Natives continually subjected to harsh
European rule
European Exploration