Transcript European Imperialism - Saugerties Central Schools

European Imperialism
Global Studies 9
Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Bernier
The Atlantic Slave Trade
In the 1500s, the Europeans
began to import slaves from
Africa to the Americas. But
the use of slaves was
nothing new. For centuries,
the Egyptians, Greeks,
Romans, Persians, Indians
and Aztecs often enslaved
the people they conquered.
The Arab empire also used
slave labor.
Causes of the Slave Trade
• The Spanish had to
fill the need for
labor in their
empire in the
Americas.
• Huge and
profitable business.
• African rulers
traded their own
people for goods
they wanted from
the Europeans.
Goods slaves were
traded for:
• textiles
•metalwork
•rum
•tobacco
•weapons
•gunpowder
Triangular Trade
The triangular trade was a three-legged trade
network between Europe, Africa, and the
Americas.
The Middle Passage
The second leg of the triangular trade was called the Middle
Passage. The voyage from Africa to the Americas was
horrific. Africans were packed below deck on slave ships
that became “floating coffins”. The slaves were all but
starved. Dehydration, disease, and diarrhea were common.
Some Africans tried to seize control of the ship, while others
leaped overboard, committing suicide.
Impacts of the Slave Trade
1. More than 11 million Africans
were brought to the Americas,
and another 2 million died
on the voyage .
2. Some African kingdoms
declined and others became
more powerful from the riches
the slave trade brought in.
3. The loss of countless numbers of
talented, brilliant young African
men and women.
The Spanish Empire
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When the Spanish established their
empire in the Americas, they brought
with them their culture as well.
Government – the king ran his colonies
using his representatives known as
viceroys.
Religion – the Catholic Church worked to
convert thousands of Native Americans.
Encomienda system – a conquistador
was granted land along with permission
to demand labor from Native Americans.
Language – many Native Americans
learned Spanish, and eventually some
Native American and African words
worked their way into the Spanish
language.
Social Classes
The Columbian Exchange
Commercial Revolution
The opening of direct links with Asia, Africa, and the
Americas had far-reaching economic consequences.
Among them was a Commercial Revolution.
• Trade expanded, spurring the growth of capitalism
(the investment of money to make a profit).
• Entrepreneurs organized, managed, and risked
starting new businesses.
• A new business class emerged, devoted to making
money.
Mercantilism
With competition for trade and overseas empires
fierce, European countries adopted an economic
policy known as mercantilism. Under this policy, a
nation’s wealth was measured in how much gold and
silver it had. Colonies existed for the benefit of the
mother country only. Colonies could not set up their
own industries, could not trade with other European
nations, and had to buy goods from thee mother
country.
Effects of Mercantilism
• European countries became the
most powerful nations globally.
• European expansion spread goods
and European culture throughout
the world.
• European governments
exploited the natural
resources of their colonies.
They exported them from the
colonies to their own
countries.
• In the colonies they sold
finished products that had
been made in the mother
country.
• Governments imposed tariffs
on imported goods in order
to discourage people from
buying from foreign
competitors.