Discovery of America

Discovery

of America

On 12th October 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived to one of the Bahama Islands and called it San Salvador.America had been discovered. From this moment, Spanish sailors at the beginning, and later from other countries started exploring the continent.

In fact, it was the first and most famous of the 4 trips performed by Columbus.And a lot of expeditions by many other explorers from Spain and from other countries..

But what were the consequences of this Discovery?

EconomicConsequences

• Many crops were taken to America. Some of them addapted really well, better than in Europe. It's the case of coffee.

For America

For Europe

• Trade with America was develop even further than inner trade in Europe. It made prizes rise and cities with port to make bigger and bigger.

• Some crops were taken from America, changing the way of eating of the continent and saving people from famine. Potatos, corn, tomatos, ...

SocialConsequences

• Many indigenous people died (wars, forced labors, new epidemics...)
• Mass racial crossing.
• Slavery
• The appearance of the Creole bourgeoisie

For America

• Birth of the European empires: Spanish, Portuguese, English, French and Dutch
• Wars among them
• Piracy
• Frequent attacks to the American Ports

For Europe

PoliticalConsequences

• Fall of the pre-Columbian empires: Aztecs, Mayans and Incas

For America

• Millions of Europeans emigrated to America
• Indian phenomenon: People left their land with nothing and became rich there
• Social rise of commercial bourgeoisie

For Europe

CulturalConsequences

• European culture in introduced in all areas of life.
• Some religious rits are adapted and old languages preserved

For America

• Nearly total knowledge of the world was stimulated with travel and geographical expeditions: First circumnavigation to the world, new species and minerals, measures on Earth, cartography

For Europe

What about Spain?

• Commercial techniques revolutionized the country
• Arrival of exotic products, silver and gold
• Need for the establishment of a stable capital of the Spanish Empire: Madrid

• Development of the scientific and geographic expeditions: Elcano (circumnavigation of the World), Jorge Juan and Ulloa and Malespina (Cartography), Celestino Mutis (Botany)...

• Black Legend: anti-Spanish and anti-Catholic propaganda which started in the 16th century in the attempt of demonizing it. One of the subject was the Conquest of America

Thank you for your Attention!