Introduction – Why Did Europeans Explore New Lands?

• Between the 15th and 17th centuries, European nations explored new territories across the world.
• Motives for exploration included:
  • Gold – Search for wealth through trade and plunder.
  • Glory – Desire for territorial expansion and power.
  • God – Spread of Christianity to new lands.
• European explorers reached the Americas, Africa, and Asia, leading to colonization.

The Age of Exploration – Major European Voyages

• Europeans wanted new trade routes to Asia for spices, silk, and gold.
• Portugal and Spain led early explorations, followed by England, France, and the Netherlands.

Key European Explorers

European Conquests in the Americas

• Spain and Portugal divided the newly discovered lands in the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494).
• European weapons, diseases, and strategies helped them defeat Native American civilizations.

The Fall of the Aztec Empire (Mexico)

• Hernán Cortés (Spain) invaded the Aztecs in 1519.
• Used superior weapons, local allies, and spread smallpox among natives.
• Captured Tenochtitlán (capital) and killed Emperor Montezuma.

The Fall of the Inca Empire (Peru)

• Francisco Pizarro (Spain) invaded the Incas in 1532.
• Tricked and executed Emperor Atahualpa.
• Spain looted massive amounts of gold and silver.

The Columbian Exchange – Transfer of Goods and Diseases

The “Columbian Exchange” refers to the transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

What Was Exchanged?

Impact of the Columbian Exchange

• New foods improved diets and population growth worldwide.
• Diseases wiped out 80–90% of Native Americans.
• Horses transformed Native American hunting and warfare.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade – Forced Labor for European Colonies

• Europeans needed cheap labor to work on sugar and tobacco plantations in the Americas.
• Millions of Africans were enslaved and transported across the Atlantic Ocean (Triangular Trade).

The Triangular Trade Route

• Europe to Africa – Manufactured goods (guns, cloth) sent to African rulers.
• Africa to Americas (“Middle Passage”) – Enslaved Africans were transported under brutal conditions.
• Americas to Europe – Raw materials (sugar, cotton, tobacco) were sent back.

Impact of the Slave Trade

• Devastated African societies – Millions died or were taken as slaves.
• Boosted European economies – Free labor fueled plantation profits.
• Created a racial hierarchy – Europeans justified slavery through racism.

The Impact of Colonization on Indigenous Societies

European colonization led to the destruction of native cultures, economies, and political systems.

Negative Consequences

• Mass killings and destruction of civilizations.
• Forced conversion to Christianity.
• Exploitation of natural resources.
• Native populations declined due to disease and warfare.

Cultural Blending and Resistance

• Native traditions mixed with European customs.
• Some indigenous groups rebelled against European rule.
• New languages (Creole, Pidgin) emerged in colonies.

The Rise of European Colonial Empires

Spain, Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands established vast overseas empires.

Colonial Holdings of Major European Powers

The Impact of European Expansion on Global Trade

Europe’s colonization fueled global trade and economic changes.

Rise of Mercantilism

• Mercantilism was an economic system where colonies supplied raw materials to enrich the mother country.
• Colonies could only trade with their European rulers.
• Wealth was measured in gold and silver (bullionism).

Growth of Global Trade

• Sugar, tobacco, and cotton became major exports.
• Europe became the center of world commerce.
• Colonial rivalries led to wars between European powers.

Resistance to European Rule and Indigenous Survival

• Not all native societies accepted European rule without resistance.
• Some groups fought back, while others adapted to European ways.

Major Resistance Movements

• Incas (Peru) rebelled but were defeated by the Spanish.
• Native American tribes like the Apache and Sioux resisted European expansion.
• African leaders like Queen Nzinga of Ndongo fought against the Portuguese slave trade.

Conclusion

• The Age of Exploration (15th–17th century) led to European expansion across the world.
• Spain and Portugal colonized the Americas, while Britain, France, and the Netherlands built global empires.
• European diseases devastated native populations.
• The transatlantic slave trade forced millions of Africans into slavery.
• The Columbian Exchange transformed global diets, economies, and societies.
• European economic policies like mercantilism enriched colonial powers.
• Indigenous resistance against European rule continued for centuries.