Oklahoma History Chapter 2


 

European Explorers come to the New World

The Vikings were the first to come to the New World, but they did not explore or set up colonies.

France, Spain, Great Britain, and Portugal - would compete for new trade routes

  • This would bring them to the New World
  • These Europeans thought of the Native Americans as savages with no religion or culture.
  • They allowed destruction of their rich heritage.
Traders of Europe traveled to Asia to get:
  • Silk, jewels, spices, and tea
  • These items were in great demand in Europe
  • These items were very expensive due to: MIDDLEMEN-buy from traders then resale them.
Travel to Asia to get items very expensive and dangerous:
  • Travel great distance overland
  • Pay taxes as you travel through different areas
  • Wars
  • Thieves
1477 - Marco Polo wrote a book telling about his travels in Asia, this brought even a greater demand for these products.

Europeans wanted an all water route to Asia to cut cost of these items.

Prince Henry the Navigator, from Portugal:

  • Set up schools for sailors
  • Paid for new boats
1487 - Bartholomew Diaz, from Portugal, rounded the south tip of Africa, but turned back.

1488 - Vasco da Gama rounded tip of Africa and sailed onto Asia

  • This allowed Portugal to control the trade route going east, the rest of explorers headed west.
 

Christopher Columbus, from Italy, had been trying to finance a trip to Asia

  • He believed that the world was round and could reach Asia in 3000 miles. (actually 1200 miles)
  • Began to go to Monarchs - King or Queens of Europe
  • Ferdinand and Isabella agreed to pay for his trip.
Aug 3, 1492 Columbus sailed with 3 ships
  • Landed on Oct 12, 1492 in San Salvador (island in Bahamas)
  • Thought he was in India, called the people Indians.
  • Columbus would make 4 trips to the New World for Spain,
    • 1492, 1492, 1498, and 1502
    • Columbus would never know he had not reached Asia.
Amerigo Vespucci travel to New World in 1499 & 1501, he realized this was not Asia but a new land.
  • In 1507, a mapmaker named these new lands America in honor of Vespucci.
1519 - 1522 - Ferdinand Magellan, Spanish, sailed around the tip of South America and on around the World.
  • Started with 5 ships and 230 men. Only 1 ship and 18 men finished the voyage. Others died of shipwreck, cold, disease, or battles.
Arrival of the Spanish: 1519 - Hernan Cortes' conquered the Aztecs in Mexico - killed their ruler and took their gold and silver.

1535 - Pizarro defeated the Inca's in South America and took over the richest silver mines in the world

1540 - Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was sent to explore land north of Mexico

  • 250 nobles, 300 riders, 70 foot soldiers, 1500 Indians
  • 1000 horses, 500 cows, 5000 sheep
  • Was looking for "7 cities of Cibola" - made of Gold
  • Indian Guide "The Turk"
  • Found nothing but dry open lands
  • Cornoatto 1541 - inscribed in a rock in corner of panhandle
  • The Turk was killed - they thought he had lied to them
Hernando De Soto:
  • Landed in Florida and headed west
  • Took year to reach the Mississippi
  • Spent the winter near present day Ft. Smith, Arkansas
  • Claimed the land - including Oklahoma - for Spain
  • De Soto was killed in Indian battle and buried in Miss. River
French Traders and Trappers:
  • Came looking for fish and fur
  • Came to NE part of Canada - fished in these waters
  • Indians would trade skins and furs to French
  • French treated the Indians well
  • Did not want their land
  • Some married Indian women
The French were looking for a Northwest Passage -
an all water route thru North America.

1682 - Robert de LaSalle traveled down Miss. River: from Canada to Gulf of Mexico

  • Claimed land for France: named Louisiana after King Louis XIV (14th)
    • Great Lakes of the North
    • Rocky Mts.
    • Appalachian Mts.
    • Gulf of Mexico
  • La Salle said to build ports
  • Was killed by his own men later
1718 - Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne - founded city of New Orleans at base of Miss. River


1719 - Bernard de la Harpe

  • Led a group to S.E. of present day Tulsa
  • Met with leaders of 6 tribes to discuss trade
  • 1st peace meeting with Indians and Europeans
French became friendly with Indians
    • French traded to Indians:
      • Brandy
      • Metal tools
      • Guns/Ammo
      • Mirror
      • Cloth
      • Blankets
       
    • Indians traded to French:
    Ferdinandia - trading site near present day Newkirk
    • Main large village - many French artifacts found
    • Small village few miles north - for skinning and tanning hides
    • See a PPT presentation from OU about the Bryon-Paddock "dig"
    • Another Wichita Indian dig site in Kay County.
    • A dig site near Duncan.
    European and Indian contact:
    • The Indians would never be the same after the Europeans arrived
    • Exploitation - using people/objects for ones own benefit
    Neither the Spanish or the French came to understand the Indians

    Spanish believed they were chosen by God to bring all people into the Roman Catholic Church

    Food: Introduced to Europeans by Indians

    • Corn, beans, potatoes, and squash
    • Coffee and chocolate (drink)
    • Tobacco
    Animals:
    • Europeans introduced horses to Indians - which would change Indians life
    • Spanish took back to Europe: Turkey
    Metal tools and guns greatly changed Indians lifestyle

    Both French and Spanish wanted to convert the Indians to Christianity

    Europeans brought disease to the New World:

    • Indians had no immunity - natural resistance
    • Chicken pox
    • Small pox - most severe
    • Many Indians committed suicide
    Disease was often spread on purpose:
    • Indians given blankets infected with small pox
    • Threatened to "let the disease out of bottle" to intimidate the Indians
    Disease and more Europeans coming caused the Indians to become the minority in their own land