LESSON 6.4 How did the arrival of the conquistadors change the Americas?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain the arrival of Spanish conquistadors.
Tune in In the 15th and 16th centuries, Europeans explored new lands. They were looking for wealth and resources. This made many European countries rich but hurt the native peoples of the Americas. 1. Look at the painting. Notice how the different people — the Spanish and the Native Americans — are shown. Does their portrayal suggest a particular perspective on the part of the artist? 2. Consider how accurate you think this image is compared to how the event occurred.
SOURCE1 An artwork created in 1862 showing Columbus taking possession of the New World for Spain
6.4.1 European expansion In the 15th and 16th centuries, European countries quickly expanded their colonies, especially in the Americas. Europeans often clashed violently with the native people. In most cases, the two cultures could not coexist peacefully — one would dominate the other, like Hernán Cortés and the Aztecs. 6.4.2 Columbus sets the scene With support from Spain, Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, set out in August 1492 to find a route to Asia at a time when no one in Europe knew the Americas existed. When he reached land in October, he thought he had arrived in Asia, but he was actually in the Bahamas. Between 1493 and 1504, Columbus made three more trips to the ‘ NewWorld ’. He started Spain’s first American colony on Hispaniola and was the first of many explorers to bring ideas of conquest and control. 6.4.3 The ‘legal’ conquest At the time of Columbus’ voyage, Spain and Portugal were major rivals in exploring the oceans. Their relationship was tense, and Columbus’ discovery could lead to conflict. To prevent this, Pope Alexander VI issued a decree in 1493, giving Spain the right to colonise the Americas. Any land not inhabited by Christians could be ‘discovered’. This allowed, as far as the Spanish were concerned, the ‘legal’ displacement or enslavement of native people. The next year, a treaty was signed to clarify where Spain and Portugal could explore and trade. This was called the Treaty of Tordesillas, and it divided the new lands between the two countries.
132 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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