
Study the timeline on pages 24-25. Answer the
following questions:

1. How many years separated Columbus landing in
America and the Dutch purchase of Manhattan
Island?

2. Why was the St. Lawrence River first explored?

3. In what year did Spain first conquer a major
American Empire?

4. What town was located in present day New York
City?
Do Now:
Create a Timeline

(10 events)
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Pizarro defeats Inca empire
Treaty of Tordesillas
Cortes defeats Aztecs
Magellan sails around the world
Dias sails around southern tip of Africa
Da Gama finds a water route to Asia
Columbus discovers America
Line of Demarcation
Amerigo Vespucci realizes land is not Asia
Balboa reaches Pacific Ocean
Define: Conquistador, Mercantilism,
Missionaries

DO NOW: 10/11(Pg.33)

How did the Aztec and Inca empires fall to
such small groups of conquistadors?
(3 reasons)

1. Made alliances with their enemies

2. European diseases

3. Warfare
Spain Claims and
Empire
Chapter 2 – Section 1
Mr. Ferrara


Sailors began seeking a
route to Asia – used a
navigator.
Henry the Navigator
◦ Began a school for
navigation
◦ traveled further down
African Coast than any
European had gone
before
◦ Created the caravel
 Triangular sails – to sail
into the wind
 Square sails carried the
ship when wind was at its
back
Exploring the
Americas:
Shortcuts to Asia

Bartolomeu Dias (Portugal)
◦ Reached the Southern tip of Africa
◦ Named it “Cape of Good Hope”
Exploring the Americas:
Shortcuts to Asia (Cont.)

Vasco da Gama
(Portugal)
◦ Followed Dias’s route
around the Cape
◦ Continued North
along eastern coast
 east across Indian
Ocean  to India
◦ FIRST TO FIND
◦ ALL-WATER ROUTE
TO ASIA!
A Water Route to Asia



Italian navigator
Believed he knew a
faster route to Asia
King Ferdinand and
Queen Isabella
(Spain’s rulers)
liked his plan
◦ 1. Wanted a share of
rich Asian trade
◦ 2. Spread Christianity

http://www.history.com/topics/columbuscontroversy/media#christopher-columbus-man-and-myth
Christopher Columbus


August 3rd, 1492 – sailed with his fleet on
the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria from
Spain.
http://www.history.com/videos/columbus-ships-are-marvels-of-engineering#columbus-ships-are-marvels-ofengineering
Reaching the Americas
Landed on an island in
he Caribbean sea
(though it was India or
Asia) – Named it San
Salvador
 Sailed to many of the
Caribbean islands.


Last island – named La
Espanola (Hispaniola)
found pearls and gold.
◦ Convinced he reached
Asia, so he returned
home
◦ No idea he was so close
to continents that were
undiscovered.
Reaching the Americas (Cont.)

1493 – Pope
Alexander VI drew an
imaginary line around
the world to decide
who would control
lands
◦ Line of
Demarcation
 Portugal could
claim all nonChristian lands
east of line
 Spain could claim
all non-Christian
lands west of line
Dividing up the World


Portugal’s King
John was not
happy – wanted a
meeting to change
Pope’s mind.
Treaty of
Tordesillas:
◦ Moved Line of
Demarcation 800
miles farther west.
◦ Increased Spanish
and Portuguese
explorations
Dividing up the World (Cont.)
1. Wanted to spread Christianity beyond
Europe
 2. Expand empires
 3. Wanted to be rich

Goals during Age of Exploration

Amerigo
Vespucci
(Italian)
◦ 1501 – Sent out
to find route to
Asia
◦ Realized land he
saw was NOT
Asia
◦ Named the
content
“America” after
him
Europeans Explore New Lands

Vasco Nunez de Balboa (Spain)
◦ Heard Native Americans report there was
another sea an province rich in gold
◦ 1513 – led expedition through Panama to
discover the Pacific Ocean
◦ Claimed ocean and all lands around it for Spain
Europeans Explore New Lands

Ferdinand Magellan (Portugal)
◦ 1519 - Proposed to sail west around South
America to get to Asia
◦ Crossed Pacific Ocean and reached Philippines
◦ He was killed but crew traveled on
 1522 - One ship made it back to Portugal
◦ First people to travel around the world!
Europeans Explore New Lands
The End