The Beginnings of Our Global Age Europe and

The Beginnings of Our Global Age Europe and the Americas 1492 -1750

Remember Columbus? It is easy to say Columbus was a “bad guy” in 2010. Why? BUT what do you think we would discover if we compared Columbus to the times he lived in?

First Encounters in the Americas • Columbus met the West Indians – called Tainos (TY-nos). • Poor island farmers making cotton clothing and growing corn, yams, cotton. • Friendly with Columbus. – Also called ARAWAK Indians.

After Columbus: The Conquistadors • Seized the Native Americans’ gold and forced them into slavery. – Mining for gold – Burning the forests for plantation ground. – Forced into Christianity.

What happened to the Tainos? • Offended Spanish when they didn’t pay “proper respect” to Christian symbols. • Enslaved the Tainos. • Most died of European diseases • Intermarried / forced relationships led to the end of the Tainos by the 1700 s.

BTW: • The Caribbean gets its name from the Caribe Indians. – Caribe = Canibal – Last known pure Caribe died in 1920.

Conquistador Advantages over the millions of Indians? • GUNS • HORSES • DISEASE

The Indians had no immunity • • • Smallpox Measles Influenza Plague 90% of West Indians died in the 1500 s.

The Spanish heard tales of gold and fierce warriors • The hunt was on for wealth to take from the heathen Indians. • The Conquistadors came after Columbus. – CONQUISTADOR = Conquerors

Hernan Cortes and the Aztecs • From a good Spanish family. – Failed at being a European soldier. – Failed at becoming a lawyer. Cortes was hungry for wealth and recognition.

Cortes • 1519 – landed on the coast of Mexico with : – 600 men, 16 horses, and a few cannon. • WHY WOULD CORTES BURN HIS SHIPS WHEN HE GOT TO THE NEW WORLD?

What did Cortes Have? • Intelligence • Guile –crafty or artful deception. • Ruthless – Without pity or compassion • Violence • Luck

Luck? • Cortes had three bits of luck: – His translator, Malinche – Learning the Aztec story about the White Gods – The Aztec king, Moctezuma, was weak.

Malinche • Or, as the Spanish history books call her – Dona Marina. • Was she acting to help Cortes out of love for him? • Was she acting in revenge for her treatment by the Indians? • Was she acting to stay alive?

Malinche • In Mexican history she is a traitor to her people. – malinchista • In Spanish history she is a heroine. – Her son, with Cortes, was the first MESTIZO. • Mixed Race

Malinche taught Cortes about an ancient legend • Quetzalcoatl a white god who would return from the waters to begin the “beginning of the end. ” • How would Cortes see this legend as being an advantage for him?

Moctezuma and the Aztecs • The last king of the Aztec Empire was weak. • Moctezuma (Montezuma) was very superstitious and waiting for “signs” from the gods on how he should act.

The Aztecs were also hated by other tribes • The demands from the empire for human sacrifices had many lesser tribes angry and just waiting for a leader to help them beat the Aztecs.

What would you do? • If you were Moctezuma? • If you were Cortes?

Moctezuma’s Mistake • Offered gifts to the man / god Cortes but urged him not to come to the capital city of Tenochtitlan. – A city of gold.

Cortes wants the gold! • Sometimes fighting, sometimes negotiating Cortes gets to Tenochitlan. • DAZZLED by the wealth of the city. • Absolute DISDAIN for the Aztec religion. • How is Cortes going to get it?

Cortes makes no friends among the Aztecs • Not everyone thought he was a man / god. • Fighting breaks out. • Cortes takes Moctezuma hostage and makes him sign all his wealth over to him.

1520 -1521: How far will Cortes go? • Moctezuma is his prisoner. • The Aztecs hate the Spanish • A new group of Conquistadors that don’t like Cortes have landed near the capital. – They could take the wealth!

Cortes • Fought his way out of Tenochititlan. – Lost half of his men – Moctezuma was killed.

1520 – 1521 CHAOS • Indian tribes, Aztecs, Spaniards all fighting for control of the wealth and country.

Cortes with his Indian allies • Take and destroy Tenochtitlan and rename it Mexico City. • Steals the wealth – To “legitimize” his theft he takes Moctezuma’s daughter and says she is her father’s heiress and marries her off to various followers.

Mexico and Mexico City is a Spanish possession • The Indians are forced to become Christian. – Some willingly.

Cortes was helped to victory • He brought smallpox with him. • 80% of the Aztecs died.

What happened to the rich Cortes? • Had wealth, titles, and land but few people wanted to be known as his friends. • Died in 1547 and asked for his bones to be buried in Mexico. • Think he is buried in Mexico?

Interesting thing, Cortes’ will • He remembered his children – both legitimate and illegitimate – Spanish and Indian: • Including the son Martin – the one he had with Malinche. – Martin became a Spanish soldier and fought in Germany and Algiers in Africa.

Pizarro and the Incas • Cortes’ “successes” at getting wealth encouraged other Conquistadors to try to acquire their own fortunes. weapons: Guns Germs Steel

Francisco Pizarro • Illegitimate son with no inheritance from his father. • Joined in with his second cousin Hernan Cortes in the final “mopping up” of the remains of the Aztec Empire. • Became very “Machiavellian. ”

Pizarro • Poor and needed “patrons” to help him get his fortune. • Completely RUTHLESS.

Pizarro • Murdered one of his patrons, Balboa, when he was offered more opportunities by a rival conquistador. • He commonly kidnapped Indians in Panama, demanding gold, and after it was delivered, sold the captive Indians into slavery.

Pizarro hears about a kingdom of gold to the south in 1530. • The Incas • Supposed to have more riches than the Aztecs.

Pizarro tries to invade • No luck on his first two expeditions. • Rumors of the wealth, but he can’t find it!

Pizarro prepares for a final try in 1530 • What should he do to help prepare?

Pizarro’s Plan • Cuts a deal with the Spanish king. – Give 20% of the wealth he finds to the king. – The king names him governor of whatever he conquers. Gives CARTE BLANCHE. – Pizarro buys three Inca slaves and teaches them Spanish.

The Inca Emperor • Atahualpa (ah tah WAHL puh) had just won a civil war against his brother. • Powerful emperor and good military leader. • A lot of unhappy enslaved tribes forced to pay taxes to the Incas and some human sacrifices.

Pizarro and Atahualpa Meet • Pizarro tries Cortes’ trick of making the Inca think the Spanish were gods. • Atahaulpa doesn’t buy it.

Pizarro and Atahualpa Meet • Pizarro hands a Bible to Atahualpa and tells him to convert to Christianity and serve the Spanish. • What do you think Atahualpa did?

Pizarro later invites Atahualpa to meet again • The 6000 Incas come in ceremonial gear. • Pizarro lays an ambush with 200 men, 27 horses and 3 cannon. • Atahualpa is captured.

Ransom is demanded • The Incas are told to fill a room once with gold and twice in silver within 2 months to get their emperor back. • The Incas paid it.

Pizarro puts Atahualpa on “trial” • Sentences him to burned as a heretic at the stake. • IF Atahualpa converts, he won’t be burned at the stake. • He was Garotted.

Pizarro takes over the empire • Much bloodshed in forced conversions and stealing more wealth. • Pizzaro tried to “rewrite” history to make himself look heroic. • Killed by a rival Conquistador when he was 70.

Pizarro and other Conquistadors ruled Central and South America • Viceroys ruled for the king. • Spanish and Portuguese were “encouraged” to immigrate to the New World. • The “encouragement” of the Indians to convert to Catholicism.

Encomienda – forced labor • The Indians were forced into slavery, mostly mining for the Spanish. • When they died, slaves were brought from Africa to fill the labor shortage. • MASSIVE amounts of gold, silver and gems left the New World.

The Columbian Exchange • From the New World tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers, corn and potatoes were taken to Europe

The Columbian Exchange • From Europe, wheat and grapes went to the New World. • From Africa and Asia, bananas and sugar cane were brought. • Chickens, horses, donkeys were introduced to the Americas too.