1. Section 1: Spain Claims and Empire
*In the 1400s, Italian and Arab merchants
dominated trade with Asia
*Other Europeans wanted the wealth from
Asia so they began looking for a sea route
*Sailors relied on navigators to plan the
course for their ships using maps and
nautical instruments

2. *YOUR EXPLORER NOTES!!!
*In 1493, Pope Alexander VI drew an
imaginary line around the world called the
Line of Demarcation to decide who would
control the new lands that were being
discovered.
*Portugal could claim all non-Christian
lands to the east of the line and Spain could
claim the non-Christian land to the west.
*Portugal’s King John II thought the line
favored Spain. He demanded that Spain
meet with him and change the pope’s
decision.

3. *In June 1494, the two countries agreed to
the Treaty of Tordesillas
*The treaty moved the Line of Demarcation
more than 800 miles farther west.
*This agreement led to more Spanish and
Portugal exploration.
*Spanish explorers were able to conquer
the Aztec and Incas because of the
following:
~Spanish made alliances with Aztec and
Incan enemies
~spread of European diseases killing
millions of Native Americans
~Spanish were brutal towards the Native
Americans under their control

4. *Spain conquered the major Native
American Empires in Central and South
America