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1492
America Discovered + Columbian Exchange
- Native plants (tobacco, potato)
- Cattle and horses introduced to America
- "Sugar revolution" where slaves bought over
- Europeans bought diseases like smallpox and syphilis (native populations decimated)
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Period: 1492 to
Spanish Conquistadors Explored New World (For God, Glory, and Gold)
- Empire from California and Florida
- Spanish cities and towns flourished
- Cathedrals built, printing presses created, and distinguished universities founded
- Brought culture, laws, religion to native societies (foundation for Spanish speaking nations)
- Cultures fused
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1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
- Most New World land went to Spain (Portugal received some territory in Brazil + Africa/Asia)
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1521
Cortes Defeated Aztecs
- Led to three centuries of Spanish rule
- Temples destroyed; replaced by Catholic cathedrals
- Spanish created encomienda system: allowed government to give Indians to certain colonists for the promise that they will be Christianized
- De Las Casas opposed
- Black Legend
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Price Revolution (Spain Had Abundance of Silver)
- Increase in money supply -> capitalism
- Foundations for modern banking system
- Spread commerce and manufacturing
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Treaty of London
- Agreement of peace between Spain and England
- English ready to begin their colonial empire in the New World
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Virginia Company Gained Charter for New World
Reasons for New World Exploration
- Landlords enclosing croplands made many unemployed
- Primogeniture only allowed eldest son to get holdings
- Joint stock companies let investors or “adventurers” pool their capital
- Colonists were pressured to “strike it rich” or be left to the wilderness
- Virginia Company was meant to exist for a few years, after which it would be liquidated for profit
Charter guaranteed overseas settler the same rights as Englishmen at “home” -
Jamestown Established
Early years of Jamestown a nightmare:
- Settlers died from disease, malnutrition, and starvation
- Though the land had many sources of food, the “gentlemen” wasted time searching for nonexistent gold