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== Exploration (Columbian Period) ==

== Exploration (Columbian Period) ==

Starting in the Middle Ages, Christian Europe began to use its knowledge, wealth and [[faith]] to extend beyond its horizons.  Christian Europeans fought the Holy [[Crusades]] from 1095 to 1291 to protect pilgrims to [[Jerusalem]] against Muslim attacks.  Some Europeans were motivated to spread the [[Gospel]].  Others were motivated by a desire to increase their wealth, such as by finding gold.  Since [[Ancient Greece]] it was known that the world was round, and that it should be possible to reach the Orient by traveling West '''''around''''' the world.  Ironically, it was the very knowledge of the Earth's circumference that deterred a westward passage - the distance to the Orient in that direction was beyond the open-water range of ships in that period.  Also, steamships did not exist yet; these ships relied on sailing to reach their destination, and wind patterns did not always cooperate.   

Starting in the Middle Ages, Christian Europe began to use its knowledge, wealth and [[faith]] to extend beyond its horizons.  Christian Europeans fought the Holy [[Crusades]] from 1095 to 1291 to protect pilgrims to [[Jerusalem]] against Muslim attacks.  Some Europeans were motivated to spread the [[Gospel]].  Others were motivated by a desire to increase their wealth, such as by finding gold.   

 

Since [[Ancient Greece]] it was known that the world was round, and that it should be possible to reach the Orient by traveling West '''''around''''' the world.  Ironically, it was the very knowledge of the Earth's circumference that deterred a westward passage - the distance to the Orient in that direction was beyond the open-water range of ships in that period.  Steamships did not exist yet; these ships relied on sailing to reach their destination, and wind patterns did not always cooperate.   

 

But centuries passed before one man inspired by the Christian [[faith]] was determined to change the world of his time.  By the young age of 10 the Italian [[Christopher Columbus]] was working at sea, already on his way to becoming a master navigator and mariner.  He learned the patterns of the Atlantic trade winds, and their ability to carry sailing vessels across vast distances both eastward and westward before one's provisions would run out.  With the charts he developed, he was certain he could reach Asia on a westbound route more efficiently than others could.

But centuries passed before one man inspired by the Christian [[faith]] was determined to change the world of his time.  By the young age of 10 the Italian [[Christopher Columbus]] was working at sea, already on his way to becoming a master navigator and mariner.  He learned the patterns of the Atlantic trade winds, and their ability to carry sailing vessels across vast distances both eastward and westward before one's provisions would run out.  With the charts he developed, he was certain he could reach Asia on a westbound route more efficiently than others could.

 

It took enormous courage, determination and financial support to sail West into the complete unknown.  It also took more than a desire to get rich, because there were easier ways to make money.  That additional desire was a passion to spread Christianity to new civilizations.  In 1482, [[Christopher Columbus]] sought financing to sail West in order to find an easier way to reach the Far East, by sailing westward rather than continuing the different path eastward from Europe to India and Japan.  Columbus tried Portugal for raising money, but it already had its own successful explorers.  Portugal declined to support him, but Columbus persistently tried for ten more years.  In 1492 Spain drove out the last of the Muslims and re-established it as a Christian nation, and King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted Columbus's request for funding his voyage that year.  Spain continues to honor Columbus Day just as the United States does.

It took enormous courage, determination and financial support to sail West into the complete unknown.  It also took more than a desire to get rich, because there were easier ways to make money.  That additional desire was a passion to spread Christianity to new civilizations.  In 1482, [[Christopher Columbus]] sought financing to sail West in order to find an easier way to reach the Far East, by sailing westward rather than going eastward from Europe to reach India and Japan.  Columbus tried Portugal for raising money, but it already had its own successful explorers.  Portugal declined to support him, but Columbus persistently tried for ten more years.   

 

Columbus was not only a devout Christian, but an enterprising capitalist. He used his hard-earned knowledge of the Atlantic trade winds and the navigational edge they gave him to secure funding for his venture from Spain on terms that gave him 10% of any riches discovered: The contract he signed with the Spanish Monarchy, known as the Capitulations of Santa Fe, named him Admiral of the Atlantic Ocean, Viceroy and Governor of all the new lands discovered, and gave him one-tenth of the profit from all of the discovered lands  (Spain later refused to honor the agreement, and Columbus never became wealthy).  Having secured his funding, Columbus assembled his ships and crew and set out in August of 1492 to reach the Orient.

In 1492 Spain drove out the last of the Muslims and re-established it as a Christian nation, and King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted Columbus's request for funding his voyage in that same year.  Spain continues to honor Columbus Day just as the United States does.

 

So back to what Columbus did achieve.  He set sail in three ships, the first sighted land in late 1492. On Christmas eve, December 24, 1492, one of Columbus's ships, the [[Santa Maria]], reached the island of [[Haiti]].  Columbus named the settlement "La Navidad," meaning "The Nativity," and dropped off 40 men with a promise to return to them the next year.  Columbus then wrote to the King and Queen of Spain the following in his Journal:  "In all the world there can be no better or gentler people.  Your Highnesses should feel great joy, because presently they will be Christians, and instructed in the good manners of your realms."

Columbus was not only a devout Christian, but an enterprising capitalist.  The contract he signed with the Spanish Monarchy, known as the Capitulations of Santa Fe, named him Admiral of the Atlantic Ocean, Viceroy and Governor of all the new lands discovered, and gave him one-tenth of the profit from all of the discovered lands  (Spain later refused to honor the agreement, and Columbus never became wealthy).  Having secured his funding, Columbus assembled his ships and crew and set out in August of 1492 to reach the Orient.

 

But he had grossly underestimated the size of the world, and when he reached San Salvador, Haiti (Hispaniola) and Cuba he thought he had reached the Far East.  So he called the natives Indians.  He left some men there but they were eventually killed by the natives.  Columbus reported back that new people had been found to evangelize with Christianity.

Columbus set sail in three ships. On Christmas eve, December 24, 1492, one of Columbus's ships, the [[Santa Maria]], reached the island of [[Haiti]].  Columbus named the settlement "La Navidad," meaning "The Nativity," and dropped off 40 men with a promise to return to them the next year.  Columbus then wrote to the King and Queen of Spain the following in his Journal:  "In all the world there can be no better or gentler people.  Your Highnesses should feel great joy, because presently they will be Christians, and instructed in the good manners of your realms."

 

But Columbus had grossly underestimated the size of the world, and when he reached San Salvador, Haiti (Hispaniola) and Cuba he thought he had reached the Far East.  So he called the natives "Indians".  He left some men there but they were eventually killed by the natives.  Columbus reported back that new people had been found to evangelize with Christianity.

 

Soon Spain and Portugal divided the Americas with the [[Line of Demarcation]], drawn by the Pope.  The [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] moved the line in 1493.  It was a North-South line that gave Spain North America and the western part of South America, but Portugal received Brazil.  That's why Brazilians speak Portuguese to this day.

Soon Spain and Portugal divided the Americas with the [[Line of Demarcation]], drawn by the Pope.  The [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] moved the line in 1493.  It was a North-South line that gave Spain North America and the western part of South America, but Portugal received Brazil.  That's why Brazilians speak Portuguese to this day.

 

The incredible genius of Columbus -- or Providence -- was proven a year later on his second voyage across the Atlantic.  Amid the vast ocean, he was able to find the precise same location that he had reached on his first voyage on the island if [[Hispaniola]].  That is like finding a needle in a haystack the size of a football stadium.  But Columbus's colony had not survived in his absence.

The incredible genius of Columbus -- or Providence -- was proven a year later on his second voyage across the Atlantic.  Amid the vast ocean, he was able to find the precise same location that he had reached on his first voyage on the island if [[Hispaniola]].  That is like finding a needle in a haystack the size of a football stadium.  But Columbus's colony had not survived in his absence.

 

Columbus sailed on a total of three subsequent voyages, but never achieved his goal and died a failure.  His ultimate dream of liberating Jerusalem, as the Crusades attempted, was not achieved.  But what he did achieve was to open the New World to spreading Christianity and creating new wealth.

Columbus sailed on a total of three subsequent voyages, but never achieved his goal and died a failure.  His ultimate dream of liberating Jerusalem, as the Crusades attempted, was not achieved.  But what he did achieve was to open the New World to spreading Christianity and creating new wealth.

 

Columbus's efforts resulting in giving Spain [[Haiti]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Jamaica]] and [[Cuba]] by 1515.  Spain then settled Florida (St. Augustine), and later Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Spanish [[Hernando Cortes]] conquered the Aztecs in central Mexico (1521), and [[Francisco Pizarro]] conquered the Incas of Peru (1531).  They seized much gold in the process.

Columbus's efforts resulting in giving Spain [[Haiti]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Jamaica]] and [[Cuba]] by 1515.  Spain then settled Florida (St. Augustine), and later Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Spanish [[Hernando Cortes]] conquered the Aztecs in central Mexico (1521), and [[Francisco Pizarro]] conquered the Incas of Peru (1531).  They seized much gold in the process.

 

Fifteen years after Columbus's maiden voyage, map-makers (cartographers) coined the named "America" for the New World in honor of another Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci.  Between 1499 and 1502 he explored the east coast of South America, and was the first to recognize that the new land was a separate continent rather than part of Asia.

Fifteen years after Columbus's maiden voyage, map-makers (cartographers) coined the named "America" for the New World in honor of another Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci.  Between 1499 and 1502 he explored the east coast of South America, and was the first to recognize that the new land was a separate continent rather than part of Asia.

 

But while Spanish soldiers came to America, Spanish women did not.  So there were not many distinct, permanent Spanish settlements.  Also, the Spanish were also entirely subservient to their King back in Europe.  Separate governments did not develop.

But while Spanish soldiers came to America, Spanish women did not.  So there were not many distinct, permanent Spanish settlements.  Also, the Spanish were also entirely subservient to their King back in Europe.  Separate governments did not develop.

 

Other European powers were exploring North America also.  The French explored the St. Lawrence and settled Quebec, where French is still spoken to this day.  The French also explored the Mississippi, and settled the towns of Saint Louis (named after a French king) and New Orleans.

Other European powers were exploring North America also.  The French explored the St. Lawrence and settled Quebec, where French is still spoken to this day.  The French also explored the Mississippi, and settled the towns of Saint Louis (named after a French king) and New Orleans.

 

The Dutch explored and settled the Hudson River, calling the region New Netherlands and buying and naming Manhattan New Amsterdam.

The Dutch explored and settled the Hudson River, calling the region New Netherlands and buying and naming Manhattan New Amsterdam.

 

The Swedish settled in Delaware; Germans settled later in Pennsylvania.

The Swedish settled in Delaware; Germans settled later in Pennsylvania.

 

Explorer [[John Cabot]] discovered the North American coastline for England in 1497.  But no settlements were attempted by the English for about another 100 years.

Explorer [[John Cabot]] discovered the North American coastline for England in 1497.  But no settlements were attempted by the English for about another 100 years.

 

The reason is that North America didn’t have what the explorers were looking for.  America lacked valuable natural resources.  There was no gold, which is what Europe wanted.  In 1576, the British explorer [[Martin Frobisher]] even hauled 200 tons of material back to England, hoping it was gold.  It wasn’t.

The reason is that North America didn’t have what the explorers were looking for.  America lacked valuable natural resources.  There was no gold, which is what Europe wanted.  In 1576, the British explorer [[Martin Frobisher]] even hauled 200 tons of material back to England, hoping it was gold.  It wasn’t.

 

There wasn’t anything else of value to Europe either.  New England was too rocky near the coast to develop farms.  The mid-Atlantic region or Chesapeake area, where Maryland and Virginia are today, was infested with malaria. Winters were cold, and summers were hot.

There wasn’t anything else of value to Europe either.  New England was too rocky near the coast to develop farms.  The mid-Atlantic region or Chesapeake area, where Maryland and Virginia are today, was infested with malaria. Winters were cold, and summers were hot.

 

There was no livestock – no horses and no cattle, until the Spanish imported them.  Florida was a swamp, and did not even have orange trees until the Spanish explorer [[Ponce de Leon]] planted them in 1515.   

There was no livestock – no horses and no cattle, until the Spanish imported them.  Florida was a swamp, and did not even have orange trees until the Spanish explorer [[Ponce de Leon]] planted them in 1515.   

 

North America was a joke to many in England.  Its Parliament passed a law in 1597 authorizing the deportations of convicted criminals to America and other colonies.  In 1605, a satirical book entitled “Eastward Ho!” was published that mocked attempts to settle in Virginia.

North America was a joke to many in England.  Its Parliament passed a law in 1597 authorizing the deportations of convicted criminals to America and other colonies.  In 1605, a satirical book entitled “Eastward Ho!” was published that mocked attempts to settle in Virginia.

 

Think about it.  Would your family uproot and move, at great risk to your lives, to a place that had no civilization or anything of value?  Do we see families moving to the middle of the desert in Arizona, or to cheap land in the middle of Wyoming?  Only very rarely.

Think about it.  Would your family uproot and move, at great risk to your lives, to a place that had no civilization or anything of value?  Do we see families moving to the middle of the desert in Arizona, or to cheap land in the middle of Wyoming?  Only very rarely.

 

[[England]]'s first settlement of [[North America]] was in 1585, on [[Roanoke Island]] in [[Virginia]].  More than 100 families settled there, but within a few years they had all disappeared.  It remains a mystery to this day what happened.  They could have died from disease or starvation.  They could have been killed by Indians, although note that Indian attacks were often at the prodding of a rival European group, and there was no rival European group at that time.  No one knows the real reason for the disappearance of this settlement, and it's called the "[[Lost Colony]]."

[[England]]'s first settlement of [[North America]] was in 1585, on [[Roanoke Island]] in [[Virginia]].  More than 100 families settled there, but within a few years they had all disappeared.  It remains a mystery to this day what happened.  They could have died from disease or starvation.  They could have been killed by Indians, although note that Indian attacks were often at the prodding of a rival European group, and there was no rival European group at that time.  No one knows the real reason for the disappearance of this settlement, and it's called the "[[Lost Colony]]."

 

About the same time, however, England had a huge success in Europe.  Spain had ruled the high seas for most of the 1500s, until England destroyed the Spanish Armada in 1588.  That left England with the potential to gain control of the oceans and world trade over the seas.  England could protect its colonies against other European powers.

About the same time, however, England had a huge success in Europe.  Spain had ruled the high seas for most of the 1500s, until England destroyed the Spanish Armada in 1588.  That left England with the potential to gain control of the oceans and world trade over the seas.  England could protect its colonies against other European powers.