The Age of Reconnaissance

Settled areas of early modern Africa The Aztec Empire The Inca Empire *Reconnaisance: *Only discovery from the west *Reconnaissance = re-knowing *Europe explores again, and for new reasons *Political/economic power/competition *Serious curiosity *Religious passion *The Wheatley question: *Why is there no apparent connection between the Cross and good behavior? *learning to be neighbors? A World under Reconnaissance *The Iberian century (1480-1580) : Portugal *built on its ocean experience *Problem: low population *Trading in west and east Africa *Conquest in E. Africa *Ports from Hormuz to Macao *Vasco Da Gama: late 15th century *To the Indian Ocean *Swahili coast *Long loved culture; Bantu & Arabic *Not an effective take *Then the west coast of India *The Kongo a tragic episode *A Confederation of groups, headed by a supreme ruler, the manikongo *Contact by the Portuguese; early 16th C *peaceful interaction, conversion of the heir to the throne Alfonso *great opportunity *A Lesson in Negative Statesmanship *opposition by both natives and traders *the regimento (1512) of King Manuel *loss of Alfonsos cooperation *demands of the settlers of Sao Tome *reduction to slaving, conflict *Spread south to Angola *Cabral: who headed to the Americas *Landed at Brazil *First of many *Portugal took the coast *Then back to the Indian Ocean Sofala, one of many economic bases

Kilwa Mombasa Hormuz Diu Goa Calicut Macao in China *The Iberian century (cont) *Columbus *Spain encountered the New World *Took over large islands: Cuba & Hispaniola *Followed by adventurers/explorers *De Vaca, Balboa, de Leon, Coronado *The American holocaust (?) *then by the conquistadores *End of Aztec and Inca empires *Concentrated wealth the quinto *Then attempts to discover or mine more, especially silver *Ferdinand Magellan: *Whose expedition spanned the globe *He did not make it *Too intent on evangelism *The Death of Magellan *Sorta. *Do you believe this? Hernan Cortes & Francisco Pizarro *Results: large land areas claimed *A very traditional European society *Landed estates, with a small network *establishment of Catholic churches and schools *Wealth for the Spanish crown *Conflict with other European powers The World under Reconnaissance *Two Final matters: *Get the contrast between Portugal and Spain *Portugal trading areas *Spain conquest of land *Both are using force to accomplish goals *Can we ask again why Europeans cannot come in peace?