The Age of Discovery: Columbus, Tordesillas, and Global Impact

The Discovery of America: A Turning Point

The arrival of Christopher Columbus in America in 1492 marked one of the most pivotal events in European history, profoundly shaping the political, social, and economic landscape for centuries to come.

Motivations for Exploration

• The increasing difficulties faced by the Byzantine Empire, which eventually fell with the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, forced Western Europeans to seek alternative trade routes to Asia.
• By the late fifteenth century, it was clear that the Portuguese had surpassed the Spaniards in the race for spices and precious metals, thanks to their established dominance along the West African coast.

Columbus's Proposal and Voyage

At this time, Christopher Columbus, who had previously sought support from the King of Portugal, presented his plan to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain: to reach the Indies by sailing westward, rather than circumnavigating the entire African continent. To implement this ambitious project, Columbus based his idea on the sphericity of the Earth, a controversial concept at the time. Finally, through the Capitulations of Santa Fe, the Catholic Monarchs reached an agreement with Columbus for the expedition to commence.

On August 3, 1492, Columbus began his journey from the port of Palos de la Frontera, in Huelva. The expedition, consisting of three ships, arrived at a small island in the Antilles on October 12. For a long time, it was believed that Columbus had reached Asia by a western route, but in reality, he had uncovered the existence of a continent previously unknown to Europe: America.

Dividing the New World: The Treaty of Tordesillas

The division of newly discovered lands and navigation rights between Castile and Portugal was formally agreed upon by the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. This treaty established a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands, separating the two zones of influence: lands to the west were designated for Castile, and those to the east for Portugal. Consequently, the coast of Africa and Brazil fell into Portuguese hands, while the rest of America came under Castilian control.

Profound Impacts of the Discovery

The discovery and subsequent colonization of America had far-reaching consequences:

Demographic and Social Changes

• Emigration to the colonies would absorb European overpopulation, leading to a significant demographic mixture.
• The transatlantic slave trade became a massive and tragic business, bringing millions of enslaved Africans to the Americas.

Economic Transformation

• There was a significant shift in global commerce, with the transfer of products between both sides of the Atlantic becoming intensely active.
• Seville became the primary port and the gateway to America, and the Casa de Contratación (House of Trade) was established there, responsible for monitoring the traffic of goods and people between Spain and America.
• The myth of El Dorado spread, fueling the search for gold and silver.
• A system of organized fleets was established to transport wealth.
• The influx of precious metals from the Americas increased the money supply, causing a general rise in prices (known as the Price Revolution) across Europe.
• While the Spanish economy initially grew, few invested in productive industries or commerce, preferring to rely on colonial wealth.

Political and Imperial Challenges

• Ongoing wars in Europe to maintain the vast Spanish Empire proved complicated and costly.
• Excessive expenditure and the eventual decrease in gold inflows contributed to the decline of the Spanish Empire in the 17th century, further exacerbated by challenges from rival powers and English privateers like Francis Drake.

Technological and Cultural Exchange

This era also saw advancements in navigation techniques and fostered unprecedented cultural exchange between continents.