La conquête européenne de l'Amérique - Résumé sur cartes

Summary

In the 15th century, Europe was engaged in a race for new trade routes and territories. With the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Ottoman Empire disrupted Mediterranean trade, pushing European nations like Portugal and Spain to seek alternative routes to the Indies. Christopher Columbus, backed by Spain, set sail in 1492, eventually reaching the Americas. This marked the beginning of the European colonization of the New World, which led to the exploitation of resources, diseases that decimated indigenous populations, and the spread of European influence across the continent. Tensions between European powers intensified, sparking conflicts over land and trade in the Americas.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 15th century saw the European knowledge of the world, with trade from the East controlled by the powerful republics of Genoa and Venice.
• 🌍 In 1453, the Ottoman Empire took Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire and disrupting Mediterranean trade, prompting new routes to the East.
• ⛵ Portugal, using the caravels, aimed to find a new trade route to the East, sending expeditions along Africa's coast.
• 🇪🇸 Christopher Columbus proposed a westward route to Asia in 1484 but was rejected by Portugal, only to gain support from Spain in 1492.
• 🌴 Columbus’s expedition discovered new lands, mistakenly thinking he had reached Asia and calling the indigenous people 'Indians'.
• 📜 Spain and Portugal agreed to the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, dividing new territories between them to avoid conflict.
• 💥 Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498, and Portugal later claimed Brazil when its expedition ventured east of the Tordesillas line.
• 🌽 Spanish colonization brought new products to Europe, like potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, and cocoa, while devastating indigenous populations with diseases.
• 🗺️ The Age of Exploration saw European powers expanding, with Spain and Portugal dominating, but France, England, and the Netherlands also sought to capitalize on new territories.
• ⛓️ The European colonial ventures heavily relied on slave labor, particularly in the Caribbean, where they built sugar plantations and mined for precious metals.
• ⚔️ Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, European countries, including Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands, engaged in constant conflicts over colonial dominance in the Americas.

Q & A

Why were the Italian Republics of Genoa and Venice important in the 15th century?

Genoa and Venice controlled the trade of luxury goods like spices and silk from the East, which made them powerful commercial hubs in Europe during the 15th century.

How did the fall of Constantinople in 1453 impact European trade?

The fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans ended the Byzantine Empire, disrupting European trade routes and diminishing the influence of the Italian Republics over the Mediterranean trade.

What was the goal of Portugal's explorations in the late 15th century?

Portugal aimed to establish a new trade route to the East, specifically to the Indies, to control the lucrative spice trade, by exploring Africa and navigating the oceans with the help of the caravel.

Why did Columbus's proposal to reach Asia via the West get rejected by the King of Portugal?

The King of Portugal rejected Columbus's proposal due to doubts about the feasibility of the journey and the belief that the route he suggested was too risky.

What was the significance of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494?

The Treaty of Tordesillas divided the newly discovered territories between Spain and Portugal, granting lands to the east to Portugal and those to the west to Spain, to avoid conflicts over newly explored areas.

How did the Spanish and Portuguese compete in the Americas after the Treaty of Tordesillas?

Both Spain and Portugal sought to expand their colonies and access valuable resources. Spain focused on the Americas, while Portugal primarily explored Africa and Asia, though both powers occasionally clashed over new territories.

What role did diseases play in the Spanish colonization of the Americas?

Diseases like smallpox decimated indigenous populations in the Americas, as they had no immunity to European diseases. This contributed significantly to the collapse of many native societies and eased the Spanish conquest.

How did the Spanish establish control over the Aztec and Inca empires?

The Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés in the Aztec Empire and Francisco Pizarro in the Inca Empire, exploited internal conflicts, used advanced weaponry, and relied on the spread of European diseases to overthrow both empires.

What was the economic model of colonialism in the Americas during the 17th century?

The economic model was based on the exploitation of natural resources like gold and silver, along with the development of plantations using enslaved labor, primarily in the Caribbean and South America.

What impact did the slave trade have on the Americas in the 17th century?

The slave trade played a central role in the colonial economy by supplying labor for plantations and mines. The transatlantic slave trade led to the forced migration of millions of Africans to the Americas under brutal conditions.