Questions and Answers
What was the state of Europe during the Middle Ages (500-1500)?
What was the primary goal of Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492?
Who backed Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492?
Where did Columbus and his men land on October 12th, 1492?
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What was a major factor that contributed to the feasibility of sea travel during the 15th and 16th centuries?
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What was the result of the 16th Century Protestant Reformation in Europe?
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What was the result of Christopher Columbus's expeditions in the 1490s?
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What was the purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas?
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What was the result of Hernán Cortés's expedition to Mexico in 1518?
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What was the main purpose of the Spanish government's 1513 Requerimiento?
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What was one of the main reasons for European countries to conquer the New World?
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What was the result of the Protestant Reformation on the exploration and colonization of the New World?
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What was the outcome of Christopher Columbus's expeditions in terms of the native population of Haiti?
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What was the primary impact of European livestock on Native American fields?
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Which of the following crops was NOT introduced to the Americas as a result of the Columbian Exchange?
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What was the impact of the introduction of horses to Native American tribes on the Plains?
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What was the result of the Columbian Exchange on the demographic and economic landscape of Europe?
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What was the impact of the introduction of European plants to the Americas?
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What was the primary consequence of the introduction of new crops from the Americas to Europe?
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What was the primary motivation behind European powers' desire to develop colonies in the Americas?
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What was the role of joint-stock companies in the Columbian Exchange?
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What was the impact of the Columbian Exchange on the environment?
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What was the role of the theory of mercantilism in the Columbian Exchange?
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Study Notes
European Context
- Europe was weak, divided, and decentralized during the Middle Ages (500-1500), limiting global travel.
- By the 15th and 16th centuries, monarchs in Portugal, Spain, France, and England consolidated national power, creating a sense of national identity.
- The population rebounded after the 14th century Black Death, leading to a reawakening of commerce and a demand for foreign goods.
- Advances in navigation, including the caravel, magnetic compass, sextant, and astrolabe, made sea travel more feasible.
Columbus and Exploration
- Christopher Columbus sought a faster, safer sea route to East Asia for exotic spices, cloths, and dyes.
- Columbus appealed to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, who backed his voyage in 1492.
- Columbus commanded 90 men and 3 ships, landing on Watling Island in the Bahamas on October 12th, 1492.
- He explored Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, naming the latter Hispaniola.
- Columbus filled returning ships with Arawak natives to sell as slaves in Spain, leading to the deaths of half of the 250,000 Taino natives in Haiti.
Treaty of Tordesillas and Ensuing Exploration
- The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the western hemisphere between Spain and Portugal.
- Portugal, Spain, and France chartered dozens of expeditions to explore and colonize the "New World".
- Hernán Cortés led a Spanish expedition to Mexico, conquering the Aztec Empire with the help of smallpox.
- Francisco Pizarro conquered the Incan Empire in Peru, executing Incan Emperor Atahualpa.
Causes of Exploration and Conquest
- Europeans sought to conquer the New World for wealth through mercantilism.
- Economic and military competition drove further exploration and colonization.
- The desire to spread Christianity, particularly during the Protestant Reformation, fueled competition between Catholic and Protestant nations.
Key Takeaways
- European countries sought to conquer the New World for wealth, military status, and to spread Christianity.
- Diplomatic, economic, cultural, and military interactions shaped the development of early America.
Defining the Columbian Exchange
- The Columbian Exchange was the exchange of plants, animals, disease, knowledge, technology, and culture between the "Old World" and "New World" after 1492.
- This exchange led to increasing levels of exchanges between the two worlds, with some being beneficial and others catastrophic.
Causes of the Exchange
- Improvements in maritime technology facilitated the Columbian Exchange, including:
- Advances in navigation in the 15th and 16th centuries
- The development of the caravel, sextant, magnetic compass, and astrolabe
- Joint-stock companies emerged in the 16th century, leading to more organized methods for conducting international trade.
- The theory of mercantilism, which dominated Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries, motivated European powers to develop colonies and accumulate wealth through a positive balance of trade.
Impacts of the Exchange on Europe
- New crops, such as the white potato, stimulated population growth in Europe.
- The discovery of new sources of mineral wealth facilitated the European shift from feudalism to capitalism.
Impacts of the Exchange on the Americas
- The introduction of diseases, such as smallpox, measles, and the flu, devastated native populations, leading to a decline of up to 90% in some areas.
- European settlers introduced new crops and livestock, including horses, sheep, cattle, pigs, and chickens, which diversified Native American cultures.
- The adoption of horses and other animals revolutionized manual labor in the Americas, but also led to the destruction of native fields and the spread of disease.
Impacts of the Exchange on Africa
- The dramatic labor shortage caused by native epidemics in the Americas contributed to the development of the Atlantic Slave Trade and the establishment of African slavery on a vast scale.
Key Takeaways
- The Columbian Exchange resulted in significant social, cultural, and political change for both Europeans and American Indians.
- New food crops and mineral wealth brought about demographic, economic, and social change in Europe.
- The introduction of new food crops and animals impacted the Americas, leading to the destruction of native fields and the spread of disease.
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Description
This quiz covers the changes in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 15th and 16th centuries, including the rise of nation-states and monarchs, and the impact on global travel and commerce.
