European Explorers and Exploiters - 1375 Words

European Explorers and Exploiters (Essay Sample) Content: European Explorers and ExploitersHistoryInsert Name: Institution: Due Date: Introduction The historical experience of colonization was a great phenomenon, which expanded around the world and across time. Imperialism or colonialism started during 15th century in the period of Age of Discovery when Spanish and Portuguese began exploring America, East Asia, Middle East, coasts of Africa and India. In 16th and 17th centuries, the Dutch republic and England formed their oversea empires as they were competing for oversea colonies. At the end of 18th and the beginning of 19th century, was the initial period of decolonization when many European colonies in America acquired independence from their particular colonialists. Spain was greatly weakened after losing its colonies in America while England, Portugal and the Dutch republic focused their attention on coasts of Africa (especially South Africa), South East Asia and India. In 19th century, the Second Industrial Revolution took place that led the period of New Imperialism during which colonization rapidly increasingly caused the expedition of the Scramble for Africa. In 20th century, decolonization began its second phase when the Second World War came into an end. This paper examines the motives and methods that Portuguese, Spanish, English, Dutch and English used in their overseas activities. Moreover, the paper discusses why these European empires acted in such particular ways, and also analyzes how the activities aimed to achieve their needs. Discussion and review The era of exploration started in Portugal when its rulers encouraged exploration by sending explorers to first expedite Africa and then move around the world. The Portuguese explorers moved to both western and eastern hemispheres. They had religious and financial motive as the goals of conducting such explorations. The explorers identified the lucrative business of the spice trade, and, as a result, the Portuguese ventured into the tr ade and gained huge profits. By 15th century, Portuguese explorers sailed through the Atlantic islands of Cape Verde, Azores, and Madeira, and they successfully sailed to the western coasts. Their exploration proved possible with Vasco da Gama reaching India in 1498. The achievement of Portuguese exploration influenced the Spanish to finance Christopher Columbus on his mission to expedite a different route to Asia. Christopher Columbus sailed to the west where he reached a land currently known as Bahamas where in the real sense he discovered a new continent called the America. Since Christopher Columbus thought that he and his men had reached Indies, he called the local people in this area as Indians. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, in late 1400s, wanted to ensure the Spain became a powerful empire in Europe. One approach of achieving this goal was to promote explorations and acquire new lands for Spain. Ferdinand and Isabella sponsored the expeditions of Christopher Columbus, who sailed to the west as this was the easiest way to reach Indies. Ferdinand and Isabella funded many voyages in order to defeat the Portuguese so that to take control of the resources in Asia. Spain sent explorers to spread Christianity in order to reach these places. It is believed the Columbus discovered huge landmass between Asia and Europe. Columbuss voyages settled in West Indies and enabled Spain to get lucrative resources when it settled in this place. Spain settlers exploited great minerals and began sugar plantations. During 1493, the pope ruled that the entire lands of the west of the Cape Verde and Azores were under Spains possession. However, Portugal was another powerful sea that opposed the papal decree. Both Spain and Portugal reached an agreement of the Treaty of Tordesillas during 1494 that divided all discovered lands between Portugal and Spain. The Treaty of Tordesillas identified that both Spain and Portugal the only two empires in charge of expediti ng the New World. After the Treaty of Tordesillas, Spain rapidly developed itself as the leading European powerful empire in colonizing the New World. Spain succeeded in establishing big empires and aggressively searched for profitable trade routes, slaves and minerals. By 1536, Spain captured Aztecs in Mexico and in 1536 it captured the Incas in Peru. Spain proved dominant in North America where it successfully formed settlements and destroyed French expansion and settlement. In Netherlands, the Dutch East India Company was interested to settle in North America in 1609. It was a time when Henry Hudson sailed along the river which was named after him. During 1625, the Dutch purchased Manhattan Island from the locals who lived there. As a result, the Dutch settled in New Amsterdam near the Hudson River. Although, the colony owned by the Dutch prospered due to venturing in the fur trade, the Dutch did not do a lot to develop their landholdings to cover areas beyond the Hudson. In 1664, there was a conflict between England and the Dutch, and the conflict spread across the New World. Consequently, the English captured the New Amsterdam and renamed it New York while Ditchs influence became so weak after 1664. English had the motivation of the need to colonize larger parts of America as much as possible and to make British Empire more powerful. English leaders had the motive to establish colonies in America. The English wanted to accumulate a lot of raw materials and to make profits. They wanted to establish markets for surplus production of their manufacturing products. England began relatively late in colonization and exploration of America. King Henry VII of England encouraged expedition. He sent John Cabot to explore areas around the Atlantic during 1497. As a result, Cabot claimed the Grand Banks, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia for England. However, after Cabots successful determinations, the English focused on domestic matters as these issues were much- concerned to them. The English, therefore, stopped exploring. By 16th century, England had not made its presence in America (the New World). Englands interest to explore the New World aroused in the second half of the 16th century. Protestant reformation led to the increase of dissecting sects (such as puritans) who wanted to worship based on their ideas rather than complying with religious uniformity expected by the Anglican Church. The king persecuted the dissenting religious sects who refused to conform to the religious uniformity. The religious sect individuals escaped and sort refuge to America (New World) which provided them a peaceful place to practice their religious matters. English monarchy was attracted by wealth that Spain was amassing from West Indies, South America and Mexico. Captain Francis Drake and other Spain explorers amassed great wealth from Central America in late 1590s, and consequently, England gained interest to colonize the New World. The emerging Englan d Protestants and British sea power was a threat to the catholic Spain. The two European powers rapidly became great enemies and each planning to capture strategic areas across the New World. Englands initial plan to settle in the New World was futile. Sir Walter Raleigh acquired a royal charter to establish a settlement in Roanoke, situated on the island near the coast of North Carolina. However, the Native Americans raided Sir Walter Raleigh and his men who also were affected by diseases. Consequently, the settlement plan was finally abandoned. Moreover, Spaniards were still determined to defeat the English. In 1588, the Spanish Armada was sent to eliminate the British in the coast of England. Nevertheless, it was through luck and creativity that the English troops managed to defeat the Armada. England gained victory and started its exploration as a dominant naval power to boost its colonial efforts. On the other hand, the power of Spain gradually declined and fell. The strife between Spain and Britain persisted throughout the 16th century. This struggle had detrimental impacts. The English parliament by 1600 was unwilling to spend government finance on colonization. Government funding was not spent on colonization. Instead, joint stock companies were established to collect money for colonization through venturing on sales of public stock. In the entire 17th century, the responsibility of most English colonization was under the joint stock companies. Conclusion The native populations suffered much as a result of the negative impact of colonization. Hunger, slavery and war caused many sufferings while diseases, particularly smallpox, had most dangerous impact. In Mexico, by 1600, native populations reached 2milion, which was a decline from 25 million during 1519. European settlements brought much destruction which led to the displacement of the native tribes. Native American faced fateful events during the era of colonization throughout Am...