Geographical Discoveries & Impact on Civilizations

Geographical Discoveries and Their Impact

The Geographical Discoveries: In the Middle Ages, European trade flowed through the Silk Road (Central Asia-Mediterranean-Constantinople). Europeans had to find new sea routes to access certain luxury goods.

Progress of Navigation

Portolan charts were maps that detailed maritime ports and coasts. The astrolabe and the compass guided ships with more accuracy and allowed for better orientation.

The Discoverers

During the 16th century, the Portuguese had a monopoly on the trade of silk and spices to Europe. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa discovered a new, very peaceful and quiet ocean, and he confirmed that America was a new continent. Fernando de Magallanes named the Strait of Magellan, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

About the Civilizations

Europeans arriving in America found very civilized peoples and even great empires. Columbus, thinking he had arrived in India, called the inhabitants Indians. These peoples are also called pre-Columbian (prior to the arrival of Columbus) civilizations: Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas.

The Encounter Between Two Worlds

Demographic decline was due to unknown diseases, poor economic and labor conditions, and violent acts.

New Agricultural Products

Groups of indigenous people were assigned to settlers to work the land. From America to Spain came: potatoes, corn, pineapples, tomatoes, cocoa, and tobacco. From Spain to America came wheat, grapes, cows, sheep, horses, textiles, and new farming instruments. In Seville, the House of Recruitment was created to control trade between America and Spain. In the colonies, there was political and economic power. The Creoles were the descendants of the colonizers, and the Mestizos were the children of Spaniards and Indians. Fray Bartolome denounced the exploitation of American Indians by the settlers.

Conquest and Organization of the American Empire

Achievements included: Mexico (led by Hernan Cortes) and Peru (led by Francisco Pizarro). The conquered territories were incorporated into the Crown of Spain.

Reform

Pardons were payments of money for the forgiveness of sins. Lutheranism advocated salvation by faith and the free interpretation of the Bible. Other reformist religious doctrines were Calvinism and Anglicanism.

The Counter-Reformation

The Inquisition was an ecclesiastical tribunal charged with prosecuting and punishing heretics. The reform of the Catholic Church occurred during the Council of Trent. The council reaffirmed the major beliefs of Catholicism. To reform the church, several measures were adopted: banning the sale of indulgences, providing good formation for priests, enforcing celibacy, and disseminating the doctrine.