American History Survey: The World of the 15th Century

European Expansion: Challenges and Circumstances

• 15th Century Europe
  • Disunified and destabilized by internal wars
  • Recovering from the Black Death; literacy limited to clergy and royalty
  • Dominance of Catholic Church over science and technology
  • Overshadowed by the wealth and power of the Ottoman Empire
• Islamic Influence
  • Control over trade routes to Asia by the Ottomans
  • Spread of Islam across the Sahara into Africa and the Iberian Peninsula
  • Arabic as the primary language for law, commerce, and science

Shifts in European Power

• Printing Press (late 15th century)
  • Increased literacy and ownership of books
  • Marco Polo's travels inspired renewed interest in Asian markets
• Rise of Spain and Portugal
  • 1469: Marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand unites Aragon and Castile
  • Completion of the Reconquista in 1492
  • Expansionist momentum directed westward and into Africa

Maritime Advances

• New Ships and Navigation
  • Introduction of the Latin sail improves ocean travel
  • Spain and Portugal develop distinct strategies for expansion
  • Portuguese voyages along Africa; Spanish expeditions westward

African Context

• Pre-European Contact Slavery in Africa
  • Tied to family and social status
  • Slaves sometimes powerful advisors
• Portuguese Influence
  • Establishment of factories and forts along African coasts
• European Exploitation
  • Impact of diseases and slavery on indigenous populations like the Guanche

Arrival of Europeans in the Americas

• Christopher Columbus
  • Supported by Spain for transatlantic voyages
  • Misidentified Caribbean as part of Asia
  • Initiated European colonization patterns similar to those in Africa

Impact on Indigenous Populations

• Epidemics and Exploitation
  • Native populations decimated by diseases
  • Forced labor systems introduced

Protestant Reformation

• Religious Strife in Europe
  • Martin Luther's break with Catholicism sparks Protestant Reformation
  • John Calvin's ideas on predestination
  • Henry VIII's establishment of the Church of England
• Legacy on Colonization
  • Protestantism's slow spread to the New World
  • Catholicism's early dominance in colonial efforts by Spain and Portugal

Conclusion

• Spanish Century
  • Spain's significant head start in colonization and conversion in the Americas

These notes outline the complex interplay of socio-political, religious, and technological changes in the 15th century that set the stage for European expansion and the eventual colonization of the Americas.