Expansion and Exploration
th
in the 16 Century
I. Exploration
A. Causes
1. Renaissance: new studies – mathematics / literature
Fernadez de Oviedo’s – General History of the Indies (1547)
2. New Monarchs: strong centralized states finance
exploration
3. New Technology
4. Fall of Constantinople in 1453 – new route to Asia
B. Motivation
1. Material profit $$$
2. Growing Population
3. Religious zeal – Jesuits
4. Commercial Trade
Overseas Exploration & Conquest: 15th & 16th
Centuries
C. Portugal
1. Prince Henry the Navigator
a. University – Portolans (coastal maps)
b. Cueta & Timbuktu (Gold Coast)
2. Bartholomew Diaz – Cape of Good Hope
3. Vasco da Gama - India
4. Pedro Cabral - Brazil
5. Amerigo Vespucci – North America
D. Spain
1. Ferdinand & Isabella
2. Christopher Columbus - Hispaniola
3. Ferdinand Magellan - Circumnavigation
E. Technology
1. Compass
2. Astrolabe
3. Nocturnal
4. Caravel Ship
a. Lateen Sail
b. Cannon
5. Cartography (maps)
Mercator’s Map, ca. 1575
Waldseemuller’s World Map,
1507
F. Spanish Conquest
1. Hernando Cortès:
Aztecs
2. Francisco Pizzaro:
Incas*
3. Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)
a. Pope Leo VI – separated new world
territories b/w Spain & Portugal to avoid war
4. Viceroyalties: administrative
divisions in the New World
a. Viceroy – presided over the
audiencia : board of 12 judges
b. Mercantilism – economic
theory that trade generates
wealth and is stimulated by
the accumulation of profitable
balances, which a government
should encourage by means of
protectionism.
1) Quinto – 1/5th of all precious metals
G. Spanish Colonies
1. Mestizos & Mulattos
2. Hacienda system
* Spanish plantations
3. Ecomienda system
* power to enslave natives
H. Columbian Exchange
1. Biosocial
a. Bio: exchange of plant, animal, disease
b. Social: cultural & economic impact
Old World
Pigs
horses
Cattle
Goats
Sugar Cane
Small Pox
Christianity
Slavery
New World
Potatoes
Maize (corn)
Tomatoes
Tobacco
Cacao
Syphilis
Indigo
Cotton
Gold / Silver
I. Results of Contact
1. Native Americans
a. 90% dead by 1600
b. European cultural imports
2. For Europeans
a. Revolution in Diet
b. Rise of global empires
c. Rise of capitalism (Commercial Revolution)
II. Status of women in the 16th & 17th century
A. Protestants
1. rejected celibacy of clergy – encouraged marriage
of priest
2. men & women spiritually equal – but women
were subordinate to men
3. Marriage: procreation, avoidance of sin, mutual
help & companionship
a. divorce was allowed
B. Catholics
1. upheld celibacy of clergy
2. Trident Decree of Tametsi - marriage must be by
the church
a. wife was to be obedient, silent, and pious
b. divorce was forbidden
C. Prostitution – tolerated by both Catholics & Protestants
D. Work: single women (middle & working class) worked
in many occupations (midwives, servants)
E. Witch Hunts (1560-1660)
1. Period of hysteria during the Reformation
2. Church: powers come from either God or the Devil
a. Used witch hunts to gain control over village life
in rural areas.
3. Women: 80% of victims (“weaker vessels”)
a. Single / widowed older women
b. Misogyny (hatred of women)
c. Midwifery / folk medicine
4. Religious wars and divisions created a panic
environment; scapegoating
a. Leaders tried to gain loyalty of their
people; appeared to be protecting
them
5. End of witch hunts
a. Scientific Revolution
b. Advances in medicine; insurance
companies
c. Trials became chaotic; accusers could
be accused
d. Protestant Reformation
The African Slave Trade
III. Commercial Revolution (ca. 1500-1700)
A. Significance:
1. Spurred age of discovery & exploration
2. Rise of capitalism
3. Rise of the middle class (bourgeoisie)
B. Causes:
1. Population growth: 70 million in 1500;
90 million in1600
2. “price revolution”: (long slow upward
trend); increased food prices, increased
volume of $, influx of gold & silver
C. Rise in capitalism (laissez-faire):
1. Entrepreneurs; bourgeoisie at the forefront
2. Banking: Fuggers, Antwerp in 16th c., Amsterdam in
17th c.
3. Chartered companies: state provided monopolies in
certain areas (BEIC, DEIC)
4. joint-stock companies: investors pooled
resources for common purpose (forerunner of
modern corporation)
5. stock markets: e.g., Bourse in Germany
6. Enclosure movement; “Putting-out”
Industry
7. New industries: cloth production, mining,
printing, book trade, shipbuilding, cannons &
muskets
8. Consumer goods: rice, sugar, tea
9. Mercantilism: nations sought self-sufficient
economy; “bullionism”