European Exploration

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European Exploration

• Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sailing
  for Spain, sights land on October 12, 1492.
• Columbus went ashore at San Salvador and claimed
  the land for Spain.
• B. Columbus had sailed west from Europe, hoping
  to find a water route to Asia.

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European Exploration

• 1. They thought they had landed at India.
• It was 15 years before the Europeans realized the
  Americas were not part of Asia.
• C. Columbuss voyage began the Age of
  Exploration.

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European Exploration

• Spain
• The Spanish government financed many exploration
  voyages.
• Spain wanted to create an empire around the
  world.
• Explorers were to claim land for Spain (Nueva
  Espana).
• 2. Explorers were to trade Spanish goods for
  gold and silver.

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European Exploration

• III. Conquistadors
• Spanish Conquerors led expeditions into the
  Americas.
• 1. They were nobles.
• They were warriors.
• a. They wore suits of armor and steel helmets.
• b. They rode on the finest Spanish horses.

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European Exploration

• B. Goals of the Conquistadors
• 1. Acquire as much gold, silver, and other
  treasures as possible.
• 2. Explore and claim land for Spain.
• 3. Bring Christianity to the Indians.
• C. Friars traveled with the Conquistadors.
• 1. They were to convert the Indians to the Roman
  Catholic faith.

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European Exploration

• They were to build churches to support the
  religious values of Spain.
• Hernando Cortes
• He sailed from the Spanish colony of Cuba in 1519
  when he was 19 years old.
• B. He landed on the Eastern coast of Mexico.

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Hernando Cortes

• He captured Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the
  Aztecs.
• 2. They killed Moctezuma, the Aztec leader.
• C. The wealth of the Aztecs (gold, silver, and
  jewels) was taken to Spain.
• D. Tenochtitlan became the first Spanish colony
  in the Americas.

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Hernando Cortes

• 1. It was later renamed Mexico City.
• 2. Mexico City became the capital of New Spain.