Age of Discovery

The discovery of the New World was fueled by the desire to reach the lucrative Spice Islands. Christopher Columbus was trying to discover a western route to Asia from Europe when he became the first white person to encounter North America.

Hernan Cortes wanted to access the vast wealth of South America, a continent Europeans encountered while trying to find another way to the Spice Islands. Cortes’ expedition led to the downfall of the huge Aztec Empire, which stretched across Mexico.

Determined to find a western ocean passage to Asia he explored the coastline of North and South America over 4 voyages. With each voyage he treated native people poorly, demanding food and supplies and capturing many Native Americans to sell as slaves.

Although Columbus never achieved his original mission (finding a route to Asia), he changed the world forever by opening trade in the New World. Vegetables such as corn, tomatoes, and potatoes were introduced to Europe. 

Unfortunately diseases were also exchanged, decimating Native American populations.  

Magellan was commissioned by the Spanish monarchy to find an alternative route to the highly profitable Spice Islands (Indonesia). Spain had lost its customary route to the Portuguese by order of Pope Alexander VI and desperately wanted to continue the lucrative trade.

Magellan set sail from Spain with 5 ships in 1519 believing that there was a short distance between South Africa and the Spice Islands. He soon discovered a vast ocean between South Africa and the Spice Islands, which he called the Pacific Ocean. 

Magellan was killed in the Philippines in 1521 and the voyage was ultimately completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano who returned to Spain with the last remaining ship, the others lost to wreckage and mutiny.

During his voyage Cortes made himself Governor of Cuba (overthrowing the previous Spaniard governor) and even sank his ships to prevent men from escaping. His aim was to take over the largest city, ruled by Montezuma, an Aztec chief. 

To do this, Cortes aligned himself with rival tribes.

Cortes’ arrival may have coincided with an Aztec prophecy which claimed that a white god would come from the east. Soon after, relations soured and Cortes took Montezuma prisoner, ruling through him. 

During this time a Spanish force arrived to take Cortes prisoner for defying orders. Cortes and his men won this battle and returned to the city to find it in civil war. 

James Cook sailed from England with the mission to search the Pacific for the fabled continent Terra Australis. After completing the first circumnavigation of New Zealand by a European, he traveled west and discovered the east coast of Australia. 

After this encounter the local Aboriginals ignored the new arrivals, continuing their daily life, seeming to pretend the Europeans weren’t there. It is theorized that this behavior was a message to the Europeans that the land belonged to the Gweagal without being openly hostile.