The Discovery and Conquest of America
Part 1: The Discovery and Conquest of America
1. The Great Geographical Discoveries
a) The New Geographical Areas
The Age of Discovery coincides with the Renaissance and is fundamental to European civilization. Beginning in the 15th century with Portugal and Spain, other countries followed suit in the 17th century. Renaissance man became acquainted with almost all of the known world.
b) Portuguese Advance Southward
Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal established a navigation school in Sagres, which spurred Portuguese exploration. Dinis Diaz reached Cape Verde in 1444; Cadamosto and Gomez reached the Gulf of Guinea in 1471; and in 1487, Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope, opening the route to India.
In 1498, Vasco da Gama arrived in Calicut, India.
c) Economic Reasons for Expansion
Gold, silks, ivory, slaves, and especially spices (pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg) flowed from the East to Europe. Spices were essential to the European diet, preserving meats and fish. These were low-weight, high-value goods. The Portuguese sought an exclusive route around Africa to avoid competition from Italians controlling the Mediterranean and the dangers of Muslim land caravans.
2. The Discovery of America
Technical and scientific advances allowed for exploration further from the African Atlantic coast.
a) Castile’s Reasons for Discovery
Castile’s primary motivations were to outflank the Turks in Asia, spread Christianity, conquer new territories, maintain momentum after the Reconquista, pursue adventure and military glory, and acquire precious metals to meet the financial needs of the Catholic Monarchs during Europe’s expansion.
b) Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)
Born in Genoa, Italy, to a family with maritime connections, Columbus’s father was a textile worker. Columbus became drawn to seafaring life. During his early Mediterranean merchant voyages, he read extensively, including Marco Polo’s Book of Marvels, which inspired his dream of reaching Cathay (China) and Zipangu (Japan).
Believing the Earth was spherical, Columbus knew the Far East could be reached by sailing west across the Atlantic. He sought support from King John II of Portugal, who rejected his proposal in 1482. Discouraged, Columbus approached King Henry VII of England, who also refused. Columbus then turned to Spain.
At La Rábida, Columbus connected with Father Marchena, a Franciscan monk interested in maritime affairs, sailors from Palos, and nobles who supported his idea. They introduced him to the Spanish monarchs, who, after reviewing his proposal, instructed him to wait until the end of the Granada War.
Some scientists disagreed with Columbus’s project.