Prior trade with the Indies and competition from the Ottoman Empire led Portugal and Spain to seek out trade routes that they could control. Even though Vikings from Scandinavia had sailed to North America in the 900s, the rest of Europe had no idea.
When we describe power, wealth, and morality, we often connect power with politics, wealth is clearly money, and morality is often connected with religion. As we move forward in the unit, we will consider how Christopher Columbus’s voyages led to new exchanges between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Spain established a large empire in the Americas.
