Columbian Exchange Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 Portugal and

Columbian Exchange

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) • Portugal and Spain were exploring and claiming some of the same lands. • The Pope feared these two Catholic countries might go to war. • He divided the new lands and the countries agreed. • Portugal got some of South America and its trade route around Africa, Spain got the rest of the Americas.

Columbian Exchange • The exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old World and the New World

Impact of Disease • Pre-Columbian (1492) Native American population has been estimated at 54 Million. • European diseases killed an estimated 80% of the population. • By 1650 there were only 11 Million Native Americans

(Images of Smallpox, beware)

Spanish Empire The Spanish empire greatly increased because of gaining new land in the Americas and inheriting lands from other countries. Spain became the superpower of their day during the 1500’s and 1600’s.

Encomienda System • Spanish in the America’s were given the right to a section of land. • They were also given the right to use any Native American’s on their land as they wanted. – Basically the Native American’s became slaves.

Classes in Spanish Colonies • Peninsulares – people born in Spain and moved to the Americas • Creoles – pure blooded Spanish born in the Americas • Mestizo – Mixed blood Spanish and Native American • Mulatto – Mixed blood Spanish and African

Triangular Trade • Need for African slaves because the Native American’s died when used as slaves. • The voyage from Africa to the Americas was called the Middle Passage and was horrible.

Mercantilism • A theory about business • The goal was to achieve a favorable balance of trade. • That is to sell more things to another country than you buy.

Different Colonial Styles • Spanish – Harsh and conquering • Portugal – Mostly trading posts • England – Wanted land, not intentionally mean, just kept growing and pushed the Native American’s out of the way. • France – very few colonists, set up trading posts, most peaceful to Native Americans.