European Colonization of the Americas: 1450-1750

1. European Colonization of the Americas:1450-1750 By: Andrea Aguilar

2. Age of Exploration • Exploration was focused on finding new trade routes to Asia, spread of Christianity, and wealth. • Spain and Portugal led the way in the 15th C.E. followed by the English, French and Polish in the 16th C.E. • Key technological innovations in the compass, sailing ships, and superior weaponry allowed the Europeans to colonize in the Americas.

3. Explorers and Conquistadores • In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. • Vasco de Balboa explored central America and established the first colony in Panama. • In 1521 Hernan Cotes defeated the Aztec empire. Eventually led to the conquest of all of central Mexico which made up “New Spain”. Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire in 1535.

4. Treaty of Tordesillas • Sovereignty rested with the crown and land rewarded by papacy , not on rights of conquests. • The Treaty of Tordesillas was established in 1494 between Spain and Portugal. Treaty established a line of demarcation by drawing a north-south line around the globe. Portugal received land east of the line and Spain received land on west of the line.

5. Columbian Exchange • Introduction of new crops, livestock, and diseases • Decrees in Indigenous population. Increase in European and Asian populations • Emergence of “crash crops” and the outpour of silver and gold.

6. Sugar, Silver, and Gold • Sugarcane production resulted in the development of plantations, first in the Caribbean and Spanish colonies and then Brazil in the 18th C.E. • Development of plantations also resulted in the encomienda system and then slavery in the Americas. • Silver mines in Mexico and Peru (Potosi) and gold mines in Brazil resulted the formation of large towns that revolved around their production.

7. Spanish Encomienda System • Colonial society was organized in a hierarchal system: Peninsulares, creoles, mestizos, mulatos, and natives. • Under the encomienda system land and native laborers were provided to the peninsulares to work the land. • Decrees in Native population and protests from Christian missionaries prompted the slave trade to begin.

8. Northern Colonies vs. Caribbean and Southern Colonies • North America was colonized by the French, English, and Dutch whereas central and South American colonies were controlled by the Spanish and Portuguese. • Religious refugees were the first to settle in the north American colonies. • Europeans in the northern colonies did not mix with the indigenous population. • Slavery was less prominent in North America and birth rates were higher than in the Caribbean and southern plantations.

9. African Slaves • Decimation in the indigenous population and need to satisfy European demand resulted in the slave trade. • Saltwater and Creole Slaves • Brazil imported the most slaves to work the mines and plantations. African slaves made up 35% of the Brazilian population. • The Spanish used slaves to work their Caribbean sugar and tobacco plantations.

10. Spread of Christianity • Papal grants were given in return for the conversion of indigenous population. • Catholicism was especially popular. Missionaries were responsible for majority of conversions through their establishments of missions and churches. • A complicated church hierarchy developed that had great influence in political and cultural life of the colonies.

11. Reforms and Revolts • By the mid 18th C.E. the population in the colonies grew rapidly because of increasing fertility rates and immigration. • Comunero Revolt in the late 18th C.E. challenged government control in New Granada while TupacAmaru led a mestizo based revolt against the “bad government” in Peru. • The new Bourbon dynasty in Spain launched a series of reforms in the Spanish colonies. They established state monopolies in items that were important to the economy.