American Colonization In 1494 Essay

The division of the world for colonization in 1494 by Pope Alexander VI. The finalization in 1506 of the Treaty of Tordesillas establishes a vertical North-South line granting territories to the west to Spain and to the east to Portugal. The line was at 46 degrees 30' W, 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa. Some confusion over whether the line continues to the other side of the world, not to mention the impossibility of determining longitude at the time. The extent of the Pacific Ocean was not known at this time. The trade in precious spices--cloves, nutmeg/mace, and cinnamon (but also pepper, myrrh, frankincense, cassia)--was monopolized by the Arabs and other middlemen, in whose hands the goods increased
many times in price before reaching Europe. Overland routes were interrupted in 1453 by the fall of Constantinople to the Turks. The spices came from the Spice Islands (Moluccas), whose exact location was not public knowledge. Initial explorations of western Africa and opening of trade by Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal. His academy at Sagres (SW tip of Portugal). Caravels with lateen sails allowed sailing close to the wind. Explorations proceed beyond Cape Bojador in west Africa by Gil Eannes 1434, initiating the Age of Discovery. 1488 Bartolomeu Dias reaches southernmost tip of Africa (Cape of Good Hope) and Vasco da Gama (1497-8) sails around it and reaches the west coast of India (Goa and Calicut).
Ferdinand Magellan (Portuguese: Fernão de Magalhães)--his early years and career.
His patron King João dies, and the new king Manuel I mistrusts him. On his voyage to India he demonstrates his valor in combat. He is involved in the Portuguese struggle for dominance in North Africa 1513. Magellan is Quixote-like. His legal problems, and rejection by the king. His friend and cosmologer Ruy Faleiro jointly promote a voyage to seek the Spice Islands. He emigrates to Spain 1517, becomes a subject of Charles I. The high tensions between Spain and Portugal. Magellan marries Diogo Barbosa's daughter, Beatriz. The role of the powerful Casa de Contratación, or House of Commerce, controlled by Fonseca (Bishop of Burgos). Magellan and Faleiro pitch their voyage to the King at Valladolid, drawing on the letters of Francisco Serrão which describe the wonders of the Spice Islands (his voyage there began in 1511). Magellan's slave, Enrique, is thought to be from there, but actually Malacca. Maps and geographic information are closely guarded secrets, and Magellan has brought some over from the Portuguese. Magellan's conceptions about the world significantly underestimate it's size. King Charles I grants a contract to Magellan 1518 with generous provisions that are not fully intended to be met and a tacit understanding that the Treaty of Tordesillas terms would probably be broken. Fonseca plans revenge against the ambitious Magellan. The voyage will be called the Armada of Molucca, after the Indonesian name for the Spice
Islands.
The 5 ships are described in detail: 4 naos and 1 caravel (Santiago). Financing by Haro and the German House of Fugger. Magellan and Faleiro are to be co-captains.