Spain arrived in the Americas unexpectedly and Portugal wanted to go through Africa to shorten the route to India’s spices but in each case they caused damage to the culture and the people living in the discovered regions. That being said, the Europeans, in both cases, damaged the previously unexplored land, in different ways and levels of extremity. When Portugal went into Africa they enslaved a total of 12 million people (Stearns). and brought in foreign goods that made an impact on their culture. In the Americas, Spain brought disease and advanced warfare that the Native Americans could not compete with.They in no way could have, they didn’t stand a chance Portugal stumbled into the Sub-Saharan Africa. Originally, the explorative voyage was charted to go around Africa to Asia, so the Portuguese could avoid trading through the …show more content…
The Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, sponsored Columbus’ journey west in hopes that he would find this new trade route. Instead of reaching the Orient, Columbus unknowingly stumbled on a new continent, the Americas. Thinking he had arrived in India, he traded with the native people and was excited to find new items to exchange. The Native Americans, Christopher Columbus claimed: “were very friendly to us, and perceived that they could be much more easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means rather than by force, I presented them with… trifles of small value, wherein with they were much delighted, and became wonderfully attached to us” (Columbus). This positive trade experience was reported back to Spain and created excitement for further expeditions. This was the start of Europeans trading, exploring, and colonizing the
The Native Americans embraced the Europeans’ arrival, offering every item they requested and trading everything they owned since they were not materialistic people like Columbus and his men were. Despite being treated by the natives as if they were one of their own, Columbus saw the outstretched generosity as a sign of weakness and a way for him to manipulate and conquer the oblivious hosts. While the European’s were given a charitable welcome, as Howard Zinn stated, Columbus’ aim was clear- he wanted slaves and gold, so he did not retaliate the warm welcome given to him by the Native Americans. Columbus’ voyage to what he believed to be the Indies, was a commercial expedition as he sought wealth and did anything necessary to obtain
here is no doubt about the great impact that European colonies had upon the North American Continent. The initial interactions between Europeans and Indians defined history and set the atmosphere between the two groups for years to come. However, the ways in which different European Powers interacted with the native peoples of the lands they were colonizing were very different. Aside from a few key similarities, the interactions between France and the natives versus the interactions between Spain and the natives differ in the ways they treated the natives, their dependency on the natives, and their motives for colonizing. There is no doubt that the Spanish were much more ruthless in their methods of colonization than the French.
Christopher Columbus and his men landed in the New World in search for a trade route Instead he found natives and land that, in his eyes, was unclaimed and could be taken over by Spain. Christopher Columbus originally landed on Guanahani island, an island in the Bahamas, near the native Arawak (Waldman, 4). Here he found natives who were kind and helpful for Christopher Columbus and his men. Christopher Columbus decided to take advantage of these natives in the new world, despite their kindness and generosity(Turnbull Kelley, 4). Christopher Columbus was a savage man with morals which were vulgar despite the time period where killing was more
Mentioned in an article from Britannica, “(Columbus) was obsessed with the ocean from a young age and began his sailing career in his teens,” leading him to become an expert navigator and ambitious explorer. In every part of his voyages, good or bad, Columbus introduced Europe to new land where they could expand and build new settlements. He encouraged many other explorers to sail west and introduced what is known today as The Columbian Exchange. This is where he began swapping and trading New World and Old World technologies, plants, cultures, and ideas. He brought together the Eastern and Western hemispheres of the world while also opening a new international economy and helping Europe colonize new lands.
After Columbus discovered the Americas, the other Spanish conquistadors eagerly led their way with conquest to the New World. And, they claimed most of the lands in Central America, New Castile, and some lands in the southern and western part of the United States.
Christopher Columbus is a famous Italian explorer who set sail in 1492. He and his crew eventually landed in the Americas otherwise known as the “New World”. The Europeans thought of him as a hero, some even describing him as god-like. Columbus’s main focus was money; he did anything he could to profit off of the New World. In order to take the most advantage of the newfoundland Columbus took slaves, farmed the land to depletion, exhausted natural resources and colonized the land.
The imperialistic mentality of the American government after the Civil War, led to some degree to the Spanish-American war that would render a great acquisition of land for the United States. However, imperialism would not be the sole factor that led to the war against Spain, but also the sympathy felt by the American government towards Cuba’s efforts in fighting for their independence; additionally, the United States would seek to protect its commercial interests (sugar) in the island. Therefore, after invoking the Spanish to secede from their brutal practices towards Cuban rebels and attain a peaceful end to the situation, the United States arbitrarily sent a navy ship, “The USS Maine” to monitor the area.
The massive amounts of gold and silver exported back to Europe greatly enriched the Spanish monarchy and upper class, but drastically hurt the poor and common people of Spain. What little wealth the lower class had was greatly inflated as silver and gold flooded into the markets. Throughout the century of Spanish conquest, 180 tons of gold and 16,000 tons of silver were sent to Spain from the New World (Hewitt & Lawson, 2014, 1.16). Much of the acquired wealth was used to finance the Spanish invasions of Italy and Portugal. Although the Columbian Exchange changed the Old and New World in positive ways, it also ignited wars on three continents, decimated millions by disease, and further increased demand for African slaves.
The Europeans spread disease and unwanted, unknown ideas to the Native people. Even well-known authors call them conquerors in their books. Louis B. Wright defended the explorers, but also called them conquerors multiple times. He stated that people who were not there could not really say whether the actions were wrong for that time.
Columbus, who was brave and admiring, had a different route to Asia led the journey west came upon the new yet to be explored American continents. According to Document E, it states, “His conquest of Atlantic the outer space of the fifteenth century - is as meaningful to the Americans of the space age as it was to our forefathers who pushed across the vast expenses of this continent.” This quote shows how Columbus’s conquest was an important milestone in the achievements of people of his time and even today. Despite his famous discovery, one of the main reason to set sail for this conquest was Columbus’s greed for riches and fame. In Document A, it states, “I was very attentive to them, and strove to learn if they had any gold.”
Europe, such as Spain, France, and England, have had different language, culture, political system, religion and more, which they developed by themselves in their civilization. In the late 1400s to 1500s, Europeans started the colonization and economic competitions each other between countries to get more assets since their resources and lands were limited and not enough. At that time, Spaniards and French had the same purpose for exploring the New World such as pursuing wealth, winning the economic competition, but they approached to Native Americans in different ways. The difference between these two countries when they encounter with Indians was the relationship with Native Americans. Spanish and Christopher Columbus were too absorbed on finding golds and slaves to make a thriving trade when Spain discovered the new land and met Native Americans.
When Christopher Columbus saw the Native Americans, he knew right away that they were gullible but smart people. Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator and explorer. He was sponsored by the Spanish monarchy. He made 4 trips to the New World and his first trip was in 1492.Then New
When more and more people came from different countries to collect the riches that Columbus had found, neighboring countries felt the urge to send residents on a permanent voyage to discover the riches like Christopher Columbus had done. It wasn’t just two or three countries who followed this mechanism either In the French colonial regions, they were focused on trade, specifically of fur with the natives. While the French were focused on trade, a large portion of their income came from fish. Along with that, farming developed, mainly to provide support.
The Spaniards made a big impact in the Americas. They killed many Incas,Tainos, and Aztecs. These populations lost many including their emperors. On the Spaniard 's side they had power by killing Atahualpa and Montezuma they could create colonies and take riched back to their country. The Spaniards weren 't the only ones to look for riches in the New World.
During his journey he found an air passage that will help transport goods to the new world, he also found that the trip west took longer than anticipated and Columbus lied on the distance they traveled so the crew does not worry ( eyewitnesstohistory.com). Once Columbus crew found out that he had lied to them he promised them and if they don 't see land in the next two days they will turn back and head home (eyewitnesstohistory.com). That next day Columbus and his crew had spotted land and all of the crew members were anxious to set foot and discover what they have found (eyewitnesstohistory.com). Once they got close to land Columbus knew that he did not find Asia but instead he found the Caribbean islands (eyewitnesstohistory.com). After meeting the locals or the Tainos they encountered that they had gold, silver, pearls, and salves (history.com).