European exploration of the Americas began in the late 15th century, inspired by Marco Polo's accounts of wealth in Asia. Christopher Columbus led an expedition for Spain in 1492 hoping to find a western route to Asia, instead discovering islands in the Caribbean. Subsequent European powers including Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands established colonies in North America through the 17th century, with goals of conquest, trade, religion, and settlement. Colonists' interactions with indigenous peoples led to devastating disease outbreaks for Native Americans and the rise of African slavery to replace the local workforce.

1. European Exploration and Settlement CH 2: How did Europeans explore an establish settlements in the Americas?

2. Marco Polo 1200s Marco Polo travels Asia “the man with a million stories” Wrote a book about China Ri₵he$ of China: Silk Rare spices Gold & jewels Luxurious palaces Inspired European Exploration

3. Getting to Asia Surely, there is a shorter way!

4. Columbus’s Discoveries Inspired by Marco Polo Believed shorter route to Asia was in the west Spain sponsored trip in 1492 Found island in Caribbean Encounters Taino “Indians” Died thinking he found Indies

5. The Columbian Exchange

6. Slavery Comes to America Settlers forces Indians to work for them. European diseases kill them in great numbers. Africans are brought to replace them. Europeans traded guns and alcohol for slaves. Africans captured and sold slaves to Europeans.

8. Cortes Conquers Mexico Conquistadors: Spanish soldiers Mission: conquer an empire for Spain Hernán Cortés mistaken for Aztec god Guns, germs, and steel help conquer Aztecs

9. Pizarro Conquers Peru Francisco Pizarro conquers Incan Empire Smallpox kills thousands before Pizarro Incan ruler captured (Atahualpa) and ransomed for gold. Incans fill three rooms with gold and silver. Pizarro kills him anyway and takes over.

10. Settling the Borderlands Florida: Juan Ponce de Leon “Fountain of Youth” Dies from poison arrows Borderlands: Florida Texas New Mexico Arizona California Soldiers and missionaries settle in presidios

13. New France Jacques Cartier’s Northwest Passage France claims Canada Quebec: trading post French= explorers, soldiers, missionaries, traders, and fur trappers (coureurs de bois) Did not attract many settlers Indian business partners (Huron) Louisiana and Mississippi River

16. New England 1497: England John Cabot sails to Newfoundland (island off the coast of Canada) Roanoke: colony disappears 1607: Jamestown colony in Virginia Hunger and disease make life difficult Pocahontas saves Jamestown Starving Time: 60/500 survive the winter John Rolfe, Tobacco, & marriage CROATOAN

19. New Netherland Henry Hudson and that Northwest Passage Netherlands=Dutch Dutch West India Company start a colony Albany, New York Profit from fur trade like the French Peter Minuit buys Manhattan island for $24 Iroquois Confederacy New Amsterdam: diverse (Europeans, Africans, Jews) English chase off the Dutch due to wet gunpowder

22. Manhattan Island Then Now

23. Homework: How did Marco Polo encourage European exploration? How did the Columbian Exchange affect American Indians? Europeans? Africans? What kind of relationship did the French have with American Indians? What was the goals of: Columbus? Conquistadors? Missionaries? French & Dutch? How was New Amsterdam different from other settlements?