7. Major Geographical Discoveries

IES FRAY PEDRO DE URBINA. GEO. AND HISTORY DEPARTMENT 

MAJOR GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES 1. The great sea voyages: the Portuguese routes.

In the Middle Ages, Eur!e"n tr"de #ith the E"st $sil%, s!i&es' #"s re"li(ed thrugh the Sil% R"d th"t r"n "lng the Mediterr"ne"n, &")e t *nst"ntin!le "nd +r) there &rssed *entr"l Asi". But in -/, the Tur%s &n0uered the B1("ntine &"!it"l "nd &lsed s"id !"th, s it 2e&")e ne&ess"r1 t +ind ne# se" rutes t &ntinue t tr"de #ith the E"st. S +r) the +i+teenth &entur1, " series + )"riti)e e3!editins th"t !ened ne# rutes "nd e3!"nded the then %n#n #rld #ere de4el!ed. The +irst 4enture #"s the Prtuguese, #h h"d "lre"d1 2egun in the e"rl1 +i+teenth &entur1 t s"il #est, re"&hing M"deir" "nd the A(res. A+ter th"t, the1 s%irted the &"st + A+ri&" t the suth "nd re"&hed the Gul+ + Guine" $-56', #here the1 est"2lished tr"ding &lnies t 2t"in gld, i4r1 "nd sl"4es. 7"ter, B"rtl)eu Di"s re"&hed the *"!e + Gd H!e $-88'. Fr) th"t ))ent, the1 rg"ni(ed e3!editins #hse !ur!se #"s t re"&h Indi". Fin"ll1, in -98 :"s& d" G")" re"&hed Indi"n shres !ening the l"ter #"1 t the S!i&e Isl"nds.

Prtuguese "d4"n&e int Indi" 

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Fr )u&h + the si3teenth &entur1, the Prtuguese h"d " )n!l1 n tr"de in sil% "nd s!i&es t Eur!e. Their e3!editins #ere nl1 !ssi2le th"n%s t " nu)2er + s&ienti+i& "nd te&hni&"l te&hni&"l dis&4eri dis&4eries es th"t +"&ilit"t +"&ilit"ted ed n"4ig"ti n"4ig"tinn "s !rtul"n !rtul"ns, s, rudder, rudder, &)!"ss, &)!"ss, "strl"2e r the &"r"4el.

. The !"s#overy o$ a %e& &or'!: the Cast"'"a% route.

In *"stile, the *"thli& Mn"r&hs l%ed en4iusl1 Prtuguese e3!editins "nd "ls sught t re"&h E"st t "&hie4e tr"de in lu3ur1 gds. S the1 de&ided t +und the !r;e&t intrdu&ed the) 21 " s"ilr + It"li"n rigin #h thught t re"&h Asi" 21 s"iling #est. Assu)ing th"t the E"rth #"s s!heri&"l "nd s)"ller th"n its "&tu"l si(e, *lu)2us intended t re"&h "&rss the Atl"nti& E"st, 2ut #"s un"#"re + the A)eri&"s. *lu)2us &n4in&ed Ferdin"nd "nd Is"2ell" "nd signed the *"!itul"tins + S"nt" Fe $A!ril -9<', +r #hi&h the Genese #uld re&ei4e the title + "d)ir"l "nd 4i&er1 + the l"nds dis&4ered "nd the tenth !"rt + "ll the 2ene+its 2t"ined. *lu)2us=s e3!editin, &nsisting + " n" $S"nt" M"ri"' "nd t# &"r"4els $Pint" "nd Ni>"' #ith 6 )en n 2"rd, le+t P"ls n August /, -9< "nd sighted l"nd n O&t2er 
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 T "4id &n+li&ts #ith the Prtuguese Tre"t1 + Trdesill"s $-9-' #"s signed@ 21 #hi&h, "n i)"gin"r1 line #"s est"2lished /6 le"gues #est + the *"!e :erde isl"nds di4iding the s4ereignt1 + the ne# l"nds@ ?est + the line #uld 2e t *"stile, E"st t Prtug"l.

The n")e #"s gi4en t the Ne# ?rld +r) the It"li"n n"4ig"tr A)erig :es!u&&i, #h tr"4elled there "nd #rte se4er"l stries "2ut A)eri&", A )eri&", "nd #h) it #"s "ttri2uted its re&gnitin "s " ne# &ntinent.

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(. Pre)Co'u*+"a% ,eo,'es.

?hen *lu)2us "rri4ed in the Ne# ?rld, it #"s inh"2ited 21 !e!les #h li4ed n "gri&ulture "nd li4est&%, the1 did nt %n# the #heel "nd h"d n dr"+t "ni)"ls. H#e4er, s)e h"d )"n"ged t 2e&)e gre"t e)!ires, su&h "s the M"1"ns, A(te&s "nd In&"s. The M"1" s!re"d thrugh suthern Yu&"t"n !eninsul" 2et#een : "nd : &enturies, li4ing li4ing n )"i(e )"i(e "nd rg"ni rg"ni(ed (ed in inde! inde!end endent ent &it1Cs &it1Cst"t t"tes. es. The1 The1 %ne# %ne# )"the) )"the)"ti "ti&s, &s, "strn)1 "nd hiergl1!hi& #riting, "nd h"d "ls 2uilt 2e"uti+ul te)!les "nd !"l"&es in the +r) + ste!!ed !1r")ids. The A(te&s settled in the 4"lle1 + Me3i& 2et#een the thirteenth "nd si3teenth &entur1, #here he eng"ged in +"r)ing "nd tr"de. Their &"!it"l #"s Ten&htitl"n, " &it1 #here the e)!err, #hi&h &n&entr"ted !liti&"l "nd religius !#er, li4ed. He #"s " 4er1 #"rli%e !e!le #h "ls 2uilt i)!rt"nt te)!les "nd !"l"&es. The In&"s &re"ted "n e)!ire in the Ande"n highl"nds 2et#een the II "nd :I &entur1. The1 #ere " !e"s"nt !e!le ruled 21 "n e)!err, #h #"s &nsidered " gd $sn + the Sun'. The1 2uilt gre"t +rtresses in the Andes, the )st i)!rt"nt is the M"&hu Pi&&hu.

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-. Co%uest a%! orga%"/at"o% o$ the A*er"#a% E*,"re.

T &n+ir) th"t the l"nds dis&4ered 21 *lu)2us #ere re"ll1 Asi"n r un%n#n, the e3!lrer Vas#o 02e/ !e 3a'+oa  rg"ni(ed "n e3!editin th"t &rssed the Isth)us + P"n")" "nd dis&4ered " ne# &e"n $P"&i+i&', s &n+ir)ing th"t A)eri&" #"s " ne# &ntinent "nd th"t t re"&h Asi" #uld &ntinue s"iling #est. In 9, " S!"nish e3!editin led 21 Prtuguese 4er!"%a%! o$ Mage''a% , l%ed t +ind " se" !"ss"ge +r) the Atl"nti& t the P"&i+i& t re"&h Asi" 21 s"iling #est. Fin"ll1, the1 +und it t the Suth + A)eri&" $Str"it + M"gell"n'. *ntinuing #est#"rd, the1 &")e Se+ast"5% E'#a%o E'#a%o t the the Phil Phili! i!!i !ine nes, s, #her #heree M"ge M"gell ll"n "n #"s #"s %ill %illed ed.. Sin& Sin&ee then then,, Jua% Se+ast"5%

&"!t"ined the e3!editin 2"&% t S!"in. A+ter three 1e"rs + tr"4el,  sur4i4rs + the <5 s"ilrs #h #ere ut, &uld de+initel1 !r4e th"t the E"rth is rund, it h"d 2een the +irst #rld tur + histr1.

In , the &n0uest + "ll the )";r *"ri22e"n isl"nds h"d 4irtu"ll1 &)!leted. &)!leted. In 8 "n e3!editin led 21 Her%5% Cort6s l"nded n the &ntinent in the territr1 inh"2ited 21 the A(te&s. The S!"ni"rds su2;e&ted the) )ilit"ril1 "+ter " series + 2"ttles, t"%ing 5

their #e"lth "nd %idn"!!ing his e)!err, M&te(u)". Sin&e then, the A(te& territr1 2e&")e *"stili"n d)"in "nd ne# e3!editins de!"rted +r) there t d)in"te the "re" + Gu"te)"l" "nd Hndur"s. In /, /, "nthe "ntherr )"n +r) E3tre) E3tre)"d "dur" ur",, 4ra%#"s#o P"/arro  led the &n0uest + the In&" E)!ire, "lng #ith Dieg de Al)"gr. The1 de+e"ted the In&"s in the B"ttle + *";")"r&" "nd there the1 sei(ed their e)!err, At"hu"l!". Fin"ll1, ther &n0uests e4entu"ll1 &)!lete the !#er + the *r#n + *"stile in A)eri&" "nd else#here@ N>e( *"2e(" de :"&" e3!lred Flrid", Te3"s "nd *"li+rni" Al)"gr "nd Pedr de :"ldi4i" &n0uered *hile Orell"n" tr"4elled the A)"(n "nd the Phili!!ines #ere &n0uered 21 7eg"(!i "nd Urd"net". All these territries #ere in&r!r"ted t the *r#n + *"stile "nd re&ei4ed the l"ngu"ge, &ulture, religin "nd the l"#s + this %ingd). R1"l ++i&i"ls "nd &leri&s &")e t the ne# &ntinent re"d1 t e4"ngeli(e the n"ti4es "nd rg"ni(e the territr1. The Cou%#"' o$ the I%!"es  #"s in &h"rge + A)eri&"n "++"irs +r) the Peninsul", "nd in

A)er A) eri& i&"" t# t# v"#eroya't"es #e #ere re +und +unded@ ed@ Ne# S!"in S!"in $Me3i& $Me3i&, , *entr" *entr"ll A)e A)eri& ri&"" "nd *"ri22e"n' "nd Peru $Suth A)eri&"', #hi&h h"d 4"rius !r4in&es ruled 21 g4ernrs. Muni&i!"lities g4erned 21 &un&ils "nd high &urts $Audien&i"s' t dis!ense ;usti&e #ere "ls instituted.

7. 4"%a%#"a' e8,'o"tat"o% o$ S,a%"sh A*er"#a.

The &n0uered l"nds 2elnging t the *r#n + *"stile, the "#"rd h"nded ut "t the settlers. These l"nds #ere #r%ed thrugh the e%#o*"e%!a s1ste), in #hi&h " gru! + Indi"ns #r%ed in e3&h"nge +r !rte&tin, li4elihd "nd religius edu&"tin 21 the settlers. The *r#n "ls gr"nted the e3!lit"tin + )ines in e3&h"nge +r " +i+th + the "ta s1ste), the Indi"ns #ere +r&ed t #r% in )ines in e3tr"& e3tr"&ted ted )"teri"l )"teri"l.. B1 *"ta

e3&h"nge +r " #"ge. The )st i)!rt"nt )ines + gld "nd sil4er )e"nt "n enr)us 6

re4enue +r the *r#n. Ne# A)eri&"n !rdu&ts "ls re"&hed Eur!e, su&h "s &rn, !t"t r &&". In return, *"stile su!!lied #he"t, &"ttle "nd shee!, 4ines, hrses "nd #e"!ns t A)eri&". The )n!l1 + this tr"de #"s gr"nted t the !rt + Se4ille, de!"rting +r) "nd "rri4ing "ll shi!s. In 6/ the House o$ Tra!e #"s &re"ted in Se4ille t &ntrl the &))er&i"l tr"++i& "nd ensure the &lle&tin + the r1"l +i+th $<6  + the #e"lth "nd &))er&e' +r the *r#n.

9. Co'o%"a' so#"ety.

A+ter the "rri4"l + the S!"nish, A)eri&"n s&iet1 #"s di4ided int t# gru!s. On ne side #ere thse #h &")e +r) *"stile t e3er&ise !liti&"l ++i&es "nd &lni(e l"nds. The1 #ere the )inrit1 2ut h"d !liti&"l "nd e&n)i& !#er. On the ther h"nd, )st + the !!ul"tin #"s )"de u! + 4er1 di++erent %at"ve eth%"# grou,s . A)ng 2th gru!s #ere de4el!ing "nther gru!s@ Creo'es r des&end"nts + settlers "nd 2rn in A)eri&" )i3ed r"&es $ *est"/os', &hildren + Indi"n "nd S!"nish "nd +'a# ,eo,'e, 2rught "s sl"4es +r) A+ri&".

Bth n"ti4es "nd 2l"&%s #ere e3!lited 21 the settlers "s l"2rers in the +ields "nd in the )ines. The *r#n sught t "4id su&h "2uses 21 I%!"a% 'a&s. S)e 4i&es, li%e the D)ini&"n Fr"1 B"rtl)e de l"s *"s"s, denun&ed the situ"tin "nd &"lled +r i)!r4ing the li4es + the n"ti4es. Des!ite this, the settle)ent resulted in the de"th + )illins + n"ti4es 21 the !r"&ti&e + +r&ed l"2r "nd dise"ses 2rught +r) Eur!e, +r #hi&h Indi"ns h"d n i))unit1.

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VOCA3;LAR< Portu'a%@ *lle&tin + dr"#ings + 4"rius !rts, 2und in "tl"s +r). Astro'a+e@ Old instru)ent n #hi&h #"s re!resented the &elesti"l s!here "nd #"s used

t 2ser4e the )4e)ent + the st"rs "nd deter)ine the !sitin + " shi! in l"titude. Carave'@ :er1 light shi!, lng "nd n"rr#, #ith " single de&%.

ACTIVITIES

. Pretend 1u "re " s"ilr n the +irst 41"ge + *lu)2us. ?h"t sur!rised 1u +r) N"ti4e A)eri&"n !e!le <. ?rite " 2rie+ 2igr"!h1 + u"n Se2"stin El&"n, Hernn *rtJs "nd Fr"n&is& Pi("rr. /. Se"r&h in "n "tl"s #hi&h &urrent &untries &rres!nd t the "n&ient !reC*lu)2i"n &i4ili("tins. -. *))ent the +ll#ing te3t@ Arti&le 6. Indi"ns "re +ree !e!le "nd 4"ss"ls + the *r#n "nd h"s "l#"1s 2een the re"l !ur!se t tre"t the) "s su&h K ... L Arti&le <-. It is ne + the )"in duties + the high &urt $Audien&i"' t +ind ut "nd !unish the e3&esses &))itted "g"inst the Indi"ns K ... L Arti&le //. Thse en&)enders #h h"4e "2used their Indi"ns #ill lse their l"nds. Ne# 7"#s, -<  Su))"ri(e the te3t.  ?h1 these l"#s #ere #ritten ?h"t !r2le) e3isted in A)eri&"  ?h"t did the Audien&i" ?h #ere the en&)enders  ?h"t the *r#n is &))itted

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