1.4 - Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest

Christopher Columbus and His Voyages

• Motivation for Exploration: Columbus wanted to find a sea route to Asia for trade, avoiding the dangerous land routes.

• Support and Success: After eight years of seeking support, Columbus gained support from Spanish monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand in 1492. They provided ships and named him governor, admiral, and viceroy of new lands.

• Discovery: Columbus landed in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, initiating widespread European interest in the New World. The following voyages were less fruitful, finding little gold and spices.

The Columbian Exchange

• Definition: The Columbian Exchange was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World (Eurasia and Africa) following Columbus's voyages.

• Impact on Europe:

  • New Crops: Introduction of crops like beans, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and tobacco transformed diets and spurred population growth in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

  • Disease: Europeans contracted syphilis from the Americas.

• Impact on the Americas:

  • New Species and Technology: Introduction of sugar cane, bluegrass, pigs, horses, the wheel, iron tools, and guns.

  • Disease and Population Decline: Native populations had no immunity to European diseases like smallpox and measles, leading to a massive decline. For instance, Mexico's population dropped from 22 million in 1492 to about 4 million by the mid-16th century.

Economic and Social Changes in Europe

• Rise of Capitalism:

  • Decline of Feudalism: The medieval system where monarchs granted land in exchange for military service faded.

  • Emergence of Capitalism: Control of capital (money and machinery) became extremely important, overtaking the importance of land ownership.

• Increased Trade and Commerce:

  • Access to New Resources: New resources from the Americas, Africa, and Asia boosted trade.

  • Shift in Political Power: Wealthy merchants gained power over traditional landowners as trade became more crucial.

• Joint-Stock Companies:

  • Risk Mitigation: To reduce the risks of expensive and dangerous ocean voyages, Europeans created joint-stock companies. These companies spread risk among many investors, encouraging more investment and promoting economic growth.

Spanish Exploration and Conquest

• Initial Claims: Spain and Portugal were the first to claim territories in the Americas, leading to disputes resolved by the Pope's Line of Demarcation in 1493 and the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494.

• Conquest and Colonization: Spain, driven by the quest for wealth and the spread of Christianity, rapidly expanded its territories in the New World, leading to extensive colonization and exploitation of resources and native populations.

Long-Term Effects

• Global Interconnection: The Columbian Exchange permanently linked the Old and New Worlds, leading to significant cultural, biological, and economic exchanges that shaped global history.

• Population Shifts: While Europe saw population growth and economic expansion, the Americas experienced a dramatic decline in native populations due to disease and conquest.