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boys historical clothing: European voyages of discovery -- Spain España voyages de descubrimento
European Voyages of Discovery: Spain
Figure 1.--This is a Victorian view of the meeting between Columbus and the Catholic Kings (Ferdinand and Isabella). Note the Morish arch. We believe this is Columbus trying to obtain funds for his first voyage. We are not sure whatthe chains are about. The artist was fascinated with Colunbus. This is one of several depictiins. We are not sure who the boy is in he the lower right hand corner, but it is probably meant to be Columbus' son Diego. I don't think he would have appeared at court dressed like that. The work is by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze and was painted in 1843.
The marriage of Ferdinand V of Castile and Isabella I of Aragon essentially united the Iberaian peninsula, except Portugal, into a Spanish monarchy (1479). The last Moorish city, Granada fell (1492). With the Moors at last defeated, the Spanish could turn their energies into naval expansion, but weree behind the Portuguese in this area. Genonese navigator Christopher Columbus is the most renowned of all the great explorers. He sailed west under the banner of their most Cathlolic magesties Ferdinand and Isabella, hoping to reach the Indies (1492). The voyage was intensely debated by Spanish authorities. Knowledgeable people did not believe that the orld was flat. Many did believe that the world was so large that the crews of ships sailing west would perish before reaching Asia. Coilumbus of course found America, although it was not until his third voyage that he began to realize that he had found an entire new continent. Nuñez de Balboa reached the Pacific over the Istmus of Panama (1513). Charles I commissioned Magellan to find a passage through the Americas to the Spice Islands. Magellan sailed from Seville (1519) and explored the Plate estuary (1520) before crossing into the Pacific through the straits at the tip of South America now named for him. He claimed the Philippines for Spain, but was killed there (1521). One if his ships managed to return to Seville, completing the first circimnavigatiin of the world (1522). Conquistadores Hernado Cortes and Francisco Pizarro conquered the Aztec and Incan civilizations. The Conquistadores produced great wealth, gold and silver, and a vast colonial empire for Spain. Individual conquistadores often got only a small share of the gold and silver, but many benefitted from land grants. Although at first disappointed with their new lands, the conquest of the Aztecs and Incas brought vast quantities of gold and silver flooding into Spain and through Spain the rest of Europe and had an enormous impact on the still largely feudal European economies. Many other new products were brought back to Spain. One of these, the humble potato, had an even more profound impact than the gold and silver. Coronado and Ponce de León expanded the Spanish claim to North America as well. Although at first disappointed with their new lands, the conquest of the Aztecs and Incas brought vast quantities of gold and silver flooding into Spain and through Spain the rest of Europe and had an enormous impact on the still largely feudal European economies. Many other new products were broughtb back to Spain. One of these, the humble potato, had an even more profound impact than the gold and silver. Coronado and Ponce de León expanded the Spanish claim to North America as well.
The Arab armies fired by Islam reached Western Europe in the 8th century, sweeping over the Iberian Peninsula, but turned back by the Franks at Tours. One small Christian kingdom remained unconquered. Islamic Spain was for a time the most prosperous and culturally advanced stte in Europe. The Reconquista was made possible by the breakup of Islamic Spain into competing Muslim states. What followed was the reconquest of the Iberian Penninsula by a long series of Christian kings. The Reconquista was conducted over several centuries. The last Muslim kingdom to fall was Grenada (1492).
The marriage of Ferdinand V of Aragon and Isabella I of Castille Aragon essentially united the Iberaian peninsula, except Portugal, into a Spanish monarchy (1479). The last Moorish city, Granada fell (1492). With the Moors at last defeated, the Spanish could turn their energies into naval expansion, but were behind the Portuguese in this area. The Portuguese for decades had been advancing maritime science and buillding a lucrative overseas commercial empire. The Spanish focus was on land war with the Moors. As a result, many of the great Spanish expeditions were led by Italians and Portuguese. Even after launching overseas expeditions, King Ferdinand's focus was always on Europe and expanding his European possessions.
Spain and its Catholic monarchs (Isabela of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon) in the late-15th century were focused on the Reconquista and Mediterranean politics. They had not like the Portuguese heavily invested in Atlantic voyages and acquiring geographic and navigational data. Castille was not a naval power and Aragon has a Mediterranean focus. Several unrelated developments, however, combined to launch Spain on the path of global empire and fabulous wealth and the benefis flowed to Spain's largely underdevoped Atlantic ports. Portugal dominates the Atlanic coast of tge Iberian Peninsula. Most Iberian Atlantic ports are Portuguese. The rise of the Ottoman Empire began to close off Europeans to easterly trading routes. This adversely affected Aagon and its Mediterranean orientation. The increasing dominance of Venice within Italy, mean that Genoans who had acquited geographic and navigatiojal knowledge had to look west for employment. And the most obvious place for such employment was the Iberian Peninsula which jutted out into the Atlanic Ocean. Both Portugal and Spain had Atlantic ports from which expeditions could be launched. The Poirtuguese had already invested heavily in maritime expeditions and did not need Italian navigators. Spain on the otherhand had not. Thus the Italian skills and knowledge were of much greater importance. Portugal and Spain competed for dominance. The War of the Castilian Succession (1475-79) developed into a war between Castile and Portugal over Atlantic trade, meaning at the time the African coast. Castilian naval forces at the time were limited. Palos was especially important and most Catillian navigational experts were found there. The Castilian forces were defeated. Ferdinand and Isabell, in the Treaty of Alcáçovas (1479) ceded rights to Atlantic and African lands and seas--except the Canary Islands. They did not, however, lose all interest in the Atlantic and benefits Portugal was acquiring from the Atlantic trade. Theybthus turned a blind eye to the Palos navigators who were violating the Treaty and competing with the Portuguese along the African coast. Once the Reconquista ended with the surrenbder of Grenada, (January 1492), Queen Isabela decided on a new Atlantic adventure, essentially launching the rise of Spanish seapower and a vast colonial empire. Columbus set sail on board the Pinta, Niña, and Santa María from Palos (August 1492). With Columbus were the Pinzón Brothers, who were natives of Palos. Palos is also the site of the Rábida Monastery where Columbus consulted with the Franciscans about his plans for organizing an expedition of discovery. The Franciscans and Rábida would play an imprtant role in the Comquest of the Americas. Palos would play a pivotal role in the settlement and Christianization of the New World in succeeding centuries. La Rábida would play a central in the Christian evangelization of the Americas. Palos' dominance was short lived. The Spamis monarchs establishment of Casa de Contratación at Seville (1503). Seville would rise as Spain's major port.
Genonese navigator Christopher Columbus is the most renowned of all the great explorers. Columbus came from modest origins in Genoa (1449). He was influenced by Paolo Toscanelli--the Sage of Florence who urged ebterprising navigators to sail west. Columbus and other Genoese navigators and seamen sought employment in the West after Venice defeated rival Genoa in a struggle for naval supremecy in the Eastern Mediterranean. As a young man Columbus traveled extensively in Europe, concocting money-raising schemes and fleeing his creditors. He also acquired navigational and maritime skills. Columbus saided as far west and south as Maderia where his Portuguese wife's relatively prosperous family lived. Most of his voyages, however were north and south. He was part of a Portuguese expedition to Ghana. And he sailed north to England to trade wool. Columbus and fellow Genoan John Cabot may have made a compsct to cooperate in exploring the Atlantic (1483). [Boyle] Columbus appealed to King John II of Portugal to finance a voyage west into the Atlantic. Navigation experts at the court focused on voyages south along the coast of Africa rejected his project as unfeasible. Columbus finally sailed west on his First Voyage under the banner of their most Cathlolic magesties Ferdinand and Isabella, hoping to reach the Indies (1492-93). The voyage was intensely debated by Spanish authorities. Knowledgeable people did not believe that the world was flat. Many did believe that the world was so large that the crews of ships sailing west would perish before reaching Asia. He began the settlement of his discoveries on his Second Voyage (1493-95). Columbus of course had found America, although it was not until his Third Voyage when he reached the South American continent that he began to realize, but never admitted. that he had found an entire new continent (1498-50). [Bowden] Columbus despite his achievements was a controversial figure in his own era. And in our politically correct world has become a controversial figure. Many of found of insisting that he was not the first European to reach the Americas. This is probably correct, the Viking amnd Leif Erickson almost certainly reached North America centuries earlier. Columbus was the first, however, who had his voyage extensively document and the results published. Columbus is also accused of brutality and mistreatment of the Native Americans. Much of this is true, but in this regard he seems little different than other early explorers. It is also true that he was a failure as a colonial administrtor. He was in fact returned home from his Third Voyage in chains. His final Fourth Voyage ended in disaster and he almost perished on Jamaica where is ship wrecked (1502-04). He finally had to buy his passage home to Spain--a great humiliation. All of this, however, has little to say as regards his achievements a navigtor. The Americas today would surely be named after Columbus, excpet that he continued to insist that he had not discovered a new continent, but had reached the fabeled East.
One might wonder why America is called America rather than Columbia after Columbus who after all discovered it for Europeans. America is named after Amerigo Vespucci who never commanded an exploratory expedition. Vespucci was born in Florence, the third child of a respected but minor family. His father was a notary for the Money Changers' Guild of Florence. As a result of his more advantageous social position, he had much grander aspirations than his more humble Genoan competitors (Columbus and Cabot). The young Amerigo worked for Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici and his brother Giovanni. It was these brothers who were driven out of Florence when the Midicis fell from power that sent Vespucci to work in of all places Seville, Spain where they had an agency (1492). This was of course the precise time that Columbus' voyage opened up tremendous opportunities. Vespucci became an agent to Columbus' agent and financier. Thus the virtually unknown Italian merchant began the transition to a famed explorer and cartographer. Vespucci participated in two Spanish expeditions along the southern coast of South America. As a result of these voyages, he realized that the coast of the what Columbus had discovered extended much further south than originally believed. He thus came to believe that the discovery was a new continent and not Asia as Columbus and others originally believed. German scholar and cartoghrapher Martin Waldseemuller honoring Vespucci's insight created one of the most historic maps in history (1507). His map was the first to show the Pacific as a separate ocean. And he was the first to name the new continent Columbus had discovered--America. The Spanish Crown created the position of pilot major (chief of navigation) of Spain for Vespucci (1508). He was given responsibility for training pilots (navigators) for ocean voyages. He sucumed to malaria and died in Seville (1512).
Vasco Nuñez de Balboa (1513)
Vasco Núñez de Balboa was born at Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain (1475). He participated in an expedition with Rodrigo de Bastidas (1501). They were motivated by a report from Columbus that pearls could be found on the northern coast of Venezuela. Bastidas and Balboa traded inexpeive European trinkets for f pearls and gold. They then sailed west, but their ship began to leak. They had to abandon their ship on Hispaniola. Their treasure was seized by the Spanisg Governor and Balboa was penniless again.
He tried farming, but the labor and limited returns was not what hedreamed about. Leaving behind unpaid debts, Balboa stowed away with his faithful dog on board a relief supply ship headed for San Sabastian on the Isthmus of Panama (1510). Balboa's travels took him to Coiba where he befriended a local Native American chief, marrying the chief’s daughter. Balboa negotiated an alliance between the Spaniards and Comogre, another powerful native chief. It was Comogre who offered to lead the Spaniards to the other side of the isthmus if they would help defeat one of his tribe’s enemies. Balboa agreed and headed an expedition with 190 Spanish soldiers and about 1,000 Native Americans (September 1513). Balboa’s expedition crossed extreemly denses rain forest, fighting Native American tribes. Balboa from the top of the hill was the first European to view the Pacific (September 25, 1513). This confirmed the fact that what Columbus discovered was anew continent and not Asia.
Juan Ponce de Leon (1513)
Juan Ponce de Leon is credited as the first European to reach the coast of what was go become the the United States. He was a Spanish soldier left unemployedcafter the fall of Granada (1492). Like others he was attracted by the the opportunities created as a result of Columbus' discoveries. He provd himself a capable military commanddr on Hispaniola and played an important role in subgegating the Native American population. Hos reqard was the post of govenor on Puerto Rico, becoming a rich man. King Ferdinand wanted to expand his possessions outside of the area which Columus had found. Ponce de Leon was more than willing to take up the challenge. He received a royal commission. He financed an expedition to the northeast of Hispaniola out of his own personal fortune. Ponce de Leon have been preceeded by Spanish slaving raids from Cuba where the native population had been decimated by the Spanish. John Cabot had earlier reached North America, but far to the north. Cabot landed, however, on an island off Nova Scotia, claiming it for the English crown. Ponce de Leon landed on the actual mainland of Florida (1513). The precise location is disputed. He named it La Florida because of the many tropicl flowers he found there. Ponce de Leon returned to Spain and was subsequently involved in poorly documented campaihns against Native Americans on Carinnean islands, including Guadeloupe. He had not forgotten Florida. He organized an expedition to colonize Florida (1521). The expedition landed along the southwestern coast, somewhere near the Caloosahatchee River. They were attacked by Calusa braves. The Native Americns by this time were well acquainted with Europeans as a resilt of slaving raids. Ponce de Leon was hit with a poisoned arrow. The Spanish withdrew. Ponce de Leon made it back to Cuba, but died in Havama soon after. One would have thought that Floridawould have been colonized by the Spanusg soon after Cub. This did not prove to be the case. In fact, the Spanish carved out an empire in Mexico and even far away Peru before seizing control of Florida. There are several reasons for this. The absence of gold is one reason. Another is that Florida was not a Native American n empire, thus the Spnish did not have subgegated peoples to recruit as allies.
Ferdinand Magellan (1519-21)
Ferdinand Magellan was one of several Portugese navigators who enlisted in the service of the Spanish crown. The Spanish were occupied with defeating the Moors while the Portuguese has for nearly a century been involved with maritime exploration and overseas trade and thus many early Spanish expeditions utilized the services of Italians and Portuguese. Magellan as a young man tuned to the sea. He fought in the great battel of Diu that defeated the Arab fleet, opening the Indian Ocean (1509). He was involved in voyages to China and the Spice Islands. Is at this time he conceived of the idea of sailing west from Spain and circumnavigating the world. Charles I (better known as Charles V, commissioned Ferdinand Magellan to find a passage through the Americas to the Spice Islands. Magellan with a fleet of five ships sailed from Seville-- San Lucar de Barameda (1519) and explored the Plate estuary (1520). The passage to the Pacific, however, was found much further south at the very southern tip of South America. He finally crossed into the Pacific through the straits now named for him. He named the ocean the Pacific, because of the calm waters he encountred. Instead of returning to Spain with his discovery, however, Magellan decided to continue west. He claimed the Philippines for Spain, but was killed there (1521). Only one of his ships managed to return to Seville, completing the first circimnavigation of the world (1522).
Estéban Gómez (1525)
The Spanish today are primarily associated with the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. In fact, the Spanish knew a great deal about what is today the coast of ehat is now the United States as well. Estéban Gómez was a Portuguese navigator aboard one of Magellan's ships, the Santo Antonio. When Magellan gave command of the ship to another crew member, Gómez led a mutiny and seized control of the ship (1520). Gómez deserted Magellan's fleet, reversed course, and returned to Seville Spain (1521). Gómez and the trew were tried for mutiny, but fouhd not guilty. Emperor Charvels V gave Gómez command of an expedition to find a northwest passage to the Pacific (1524). Gómez sailed alobg the northeast coast of North America (1525). He sailed up the major inlets he found. He reported one such inlet at 37°N, presumably the Chesapeake Bay. He published his diary (1529). It included a rensribng of the coast of what is now Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Gómez's cpmmission was to find a passage to the Pacofic, but unlike the voyagesfurther south, he was not followed by conquistadores and colonists. It is not altogether clear why the Spanish did not colonize what is now the United States. One reason is that there was no gold found, but the same is essentially true of the Caribbean where only small amounts of gold was found. One author suggests that North America at the tome was densely populated by Native Americans capable of resisting settlement. [Mann, p. 52.]
The Conquistadores were private companies or armies which fought in the name of the Spanish and Portuguese monarchies. Hernado Cortes led the Conquistadores who conquered the Aztec Empire. Francisco Pizarro and his brothers led thev Conquistadores who conquered the Inca Empire. The Conquistadores produced great wealth, gold and silver, and a vast colonial empire for Spain. Individual conquistadores often got only a small share of the gold and silver, but many benefitted from land grants. Although at first disappointed with their new lands, the conquest of the Aztecs and Incas brought vast quantities of gold and silver flooding into Spain and through Spain the rest of Europe and had an enormous impact on the still largely feudal European economies. Many other new products were brought back to Spain. One of these, the humble potato, had an even more profound impact than the gold and silver. Coronado and Ponce de León expanded the Spanish claim to North America as well.
Spain began building a colonial empire even before completing the Recoquista or unification (1492). The first overseas possession was the Canary Islands (beginning 1402) and it served as a template for the counry's future imperial expansion. Spain was formed primarily by the fusion of Castille and Aragon after the marriahe of Isabella and Ferdinand who ruled as joint soverigns. Castille had no maritime tradition, but Aragon did along with a Mediterranean empire. Efforts to establish North African colonies was met with determined resistance by the Islamacized popultion. Efforts in the Indies beginning with Columbus' voyage (1492) met with far greater success. The fact that a Genoan navigator led the expedition attests to the limited maritime tradition of Castille. The Spanish proceeded to build one of the great world empires, the first truly global empire. Previous empires had been either regional or like the Mongol Empire a purely terrestrial territorial expansion. Spain established colonies on all continents except the Arctic and Antarctica. Great wealth from the Americas flowed into Spain, but it did not suceed in building a great world power. After a century of empire building and efforts to destroy the Reformation, Spain began along slow decline. This culminated in a bloody military campaign against French occupation and loss of most of its empire (early-19th century). The Spanish Empire (Imperio Español) comprised territories and colonies arond the globe administered directly by the Spanish Crown. Spanish conquistadores, navigators,and priests founded colonies in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania. This resulted from the Age of Discovery launched by the Portuguese. After Ferdinand and Isabella, Under the Spanish Habsburgs, Spain with the wealth flowing in from the new Empire became the superpower of the age with vast, political, military, and economic power. The Spanish overseas expansion began at roughly the same time as the Reformation (1517). Much of the strength of the empire was devoted to a costly and ultimately uncucessful effprt to stamp out Protestantism. The bullion flowing into Spain had massive economic consequemves throughut Europe. The Spanish and Portuguese Empires were established at about the same time with at first little competition from their European rivals. This ushered in the modern global era (globelization in modern parlance) and the rise of Western dominance in global affairs. The Spanish empire Spain's territorial reach beyond Europe spanned five centuries, although it was sharply reduced with the American wars of independemce (early-19th century). The ls mjor possessions were lost as a result of the Spanish-Amerivan War (1898-99). The last African colonies were given independence (1975).
Sources
Bowden, Thomas. The Enemies of Christopher Columbus.
Boyle. David. Towards the Setting Sun: Columbus, Cabot, Vespucci, and the Race for America (Walker & Company, 2008), 421p.
Mann, Chrles C. 1491: New Relevations of the Americas Before Columbus (Vintahe Books: New York, 2006), 538p.
