“O BRAVE NEW WORLD!”

Chapter 6

PROGRAM OF STUDIES OUTCOMES

• Knowledge and Understanding• 8.2.4 critically examine the factors that shaped the

worldview evolving in western Europe during the Renaissance by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:

• In what ways were the Age of Discovery and the rise of imperialism expressions of an expansionist worldview?

• In what ways did exploration and intercultural contact during the Renaissance affect the citizenship and identity of Europeans?

EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM

The Treaty of Tordesillas

• In 1494, the Pope proposed that Spain and Portugal sign a secret treaty. The treaty divided up the lands of North and South America. Spain got all the land west of this imaginary line and Portugal got the lands to the east of this line.

• Both Britain and France ignored this treaty.

• Countries in Europe were using imperialism during this age of exploration.

• Europe was extending its power over these newly founded territories, resources and people.

TAKING CHARGE

• The imperialist attitudes of the Europeans proved to be costly to the indigenous people they encountered.

• The Spanish government allowed people to mine for precious metals (like gold) and use the indigenous peoples to work for them. Millions of people were worked to death.

IMPERIALIST TREASURE

• Spain became the richest country in the Europe for many reasons: conquering the Aztec and Incan empires, and the mines from Peru and Bolivia.

• Spain used large ships called galleons to transport tonnes of gold back to Spain.

• England developed smaller and more manoeuvrable ships that attacked the large Spanish galleons. Once captured, the English would steal their gold and bring it back to England.

THE TERRIBLE COST OF IMPERIALISM

• By 1600, less than 10% of the original populations of the America remained.

• Historians estimate that up to 90 million people died.

• The indigenous peoples had no immunities to the diseases that the Europeans brought like: smallpox, measles, influenzas and the plague.

• In some cases entire tribes were wiped out.

TELLING THE INDIGENOUS STORY

• The Spanish destroyed many of the original records, books and monuments; as a result they were unable to tell their history.

EUROPEAN WORLDVIEW AND IDENTITY

• During the course of the Renaissance, humanists opened people’s eyes to the possibilities of human achievement. Not only did Europeans develop a great appetite for knowledge, they also hungered for riches and were eager to explore the world to find them.

MAPPING CHANGING WORLDVIEWS

• As a result of exploration, Europeans learned that there were no monsters in the ocean. They found a sea route to Africa and Asia. They also discovered North and South America.

• Portugal was the most powerful trading country in Europe and Spain the wealthiest.

• Through imperialism, other countries like France, England and The Netherlands gained a lot of power.

MAKING CONTACT

• Europe was fascinated when they heard that there were other people in the world.

• Reports showed that the Indigenous peoples were closer to nature, did not live in over-crowded cities and their communities operated on principles of equality and sharing.

EXPANSIONISM AND IMPERIALISM

• For the most part, Europeans saw themselves as superior to the peoples of the Americas.

• From the European perspective they needed the resources from the New World to fuel their economies in Europe and lead to future expansionism.

• Unfortunately, the imperialist attitudes of Europe lead to many deaths and devastation to the peoples of the Americas.

• European expansionism also led to the slave trade and use of slavery.

CITIZENS OF THE WORLD

• Renaissance Europe has many influences on our world today:

• Ideas were spread by the printing press.

• Ideas created by humanism encouraged people to explore.

• Trade reached many people, from different parts of the world.

• Explorers travelled to most continents.

• Wherever the Europeans arrived, they imposed their religion, ideas, values and economic system. This was their worldview.