Colonial Rivals Chapter Notes | AP European History - Grade 9 PDF Download

Introduction

The Age of Colonial Expansion, beginning in the 1500s, saw European powers vie for global dominance through the establishment of overseas empires. Initially led by Spain and Portugal, this era later witnessed the rise of England, France, and the Netherlands as formidable colonial competitors. This chapter notes explores the dynamics of colonial rivalries, trade networks, and the profound global impacts of European expansion.

The Age of Colonial Expansion

Starting in the 1500s, European nations aimed to extend their reach beyond Europe, sparking a worldwide race for colonies, trade routes, and resources. Although Spain and Portugal initially led in establishing global empires, their supremacy waned as England, France, and the Netherlands became significant colonial rivals in the 1600s.

1500s: Spain & Portugal Dominate

The Iberian nations spearheaded the initial phase of exploration and colonization:

• Portugal:
  • Founded colonies in Brazil, Africa, and Asia.
  • Prince Henry the Navigator advanced Portuguese cartography and exploration efforts.
  • Built a trading empire centered on spices and the slave trade.
• Spain:
  • Conquered extensive regions in Latin America and the Philippines.
  • Amassed wealth through the encomienda system, exploiting indigenous labor.
  • Promoted Catholic influence through missionary activities.

Treaty of Tordesillas (1494): This agreement divided the world into distinct spheres of influence, granting Spain control over most of the Americas and Portugal authority over Africa and Asia.

1600s: The Rise of New Colonial Powers

In the 17th century, France, England, and the Netherlands emerged as challengers to Iberian dominance, intensifying colonial competition.

• France:
  • Established colonies along the St. Lawrence River, Mississippi River, and Quebec.
  • Concentrated on the fur trade and Catholic missionary endeavors.
  • Operated profitable sugar plantations in Haiti, relying on enslaved African labor.
  • Lost influence in India following the Seven Years’ War.
• England:
  • Colonized the eastern coast of North America, including Virginia and Massachusetts.
  • Developed the Atlantic slave trade to sustain plantation economies.
  • Secured naval supremacy after defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588.
• Netherlands:
  • Colonized South Africa, Indonesia, and Guyana.
  • Seized many of Portugal’s trading posts in the Indian Ocean.
  • Founded the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which dominated global commerce.

Peace of Utrecht (1713): Concluded the War of Spanish Succession, preventing the unification of the Spanish and French crowns and signaling Spain’s decline as a major colonial power.

Effects of European Expansion

The Dutch & Commercial Dominance

The Dutch Republic emerged as a leading global trading power, overtaking Portugal in the spice trade due to several factors:

• Merchant oligarchies governed Dutch provinces, prioritizing trade over monarchical rule.
• Possessed the largest merchant navy in Europe, controlling extensive trade routes.
• Practiced religious tolerance, fostering economic growth and attracting diverse talent.
• Henry Hudson’s explorations led to Dutch settlements in New York.

French Colonial Strategies: Fish, Fur, and Faith

France’s colonial efforts focused on:

• Fish: Exploited fisheries in the North Atlantic.
• Fur: Engaged in beaver pelt trade with Indigenous peoples.
• Faith: Catholic missionaries aimed to convert Native Americans.

Key Colonial Conflicts

The quest for global supremacy resulted in significant conflicts among European powers:

• Asiento System: Spain awarded contracts to foreign entities to supply enslaved Africans to its colonies, intensifying competition in the Atlantic slave trade.
• War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1713): Sparked by the death of Charles II of Spain without an heir, it concluded with the Treaty of Utrecht, preventing a French-Spanish monarchical union.
• Seven Years’ War (1756–1763): A global conflict over colonial dominance between Britain, France, and their allies, ended by the Treaty of Paris (1763), cementing Britain’s control in North America and India.
• Treaty of Tordesillas (1494): Divided South America, with Spain controlling the west and Portugal the east, shaping colonial borders.

Important Terms

• Encomienda System: A Spanish labor system that exploited indigenous workers in the Americas.
• Dutch East India Company (VOC): A dominant trade monopoly that controlled global commerce in the 17th century.
• Peace of Utrecht (1713): Treaty that concluded the War of Spanish Succession, diminishing Spain’s colonial influence.
• Asiento System: A system permitting other European nations to supply enslaved Africans to Spanish colonies.
• Seven Years’ War (1756–1763): A global conflict that redefined European and colonial power dynamics, establishing British dominance.

Key Terms

• Asiento System: A 17th-century trade agreement allowing European powers to supply enslaved Africans to Spanish colonies, driving competition in the transatlantic slave trade.
• Calvinism: A Protestant branch following John Calvin’s teachings, emphasizing predestination and scripture, influencing religious and political movements in Europe.
• Dutch East India Company: Founded in 1602, this trading corporation monopolized Dutch trade in Asia, playing a key role in colonial competition.
• Effects of European Expansion: The transformative impacts of European colonization on global trade, politics, culture, and demographics from the late 15th century onward.
• French Colony of Haiti: Known as Saint-Domingue, this Caribbean sugar colony achieved independence in 1804 through a slave-led revolution, influencing global anti-colonial movements.
• Henry Hudson: English explorer whose early 17th-century voyages to find a northern route to Asia spurred Dutch and English colonial claims in North America.
• King Charles II of Spain: The last Habsburg ruler of Spain (1665–1700), whose death without an heir triggered the War of Spanish Succession, reshaping colonial rivalries.
• King Louis XIV of France: The Sun King (1643–1715), whose absolute monarchy and colonial policies intensified France’s role in global rivalries.
• Merchant Oligarchies: Governance by wealthy merchants in urban centers, shaping trade and colonial expansion through control of commerce and finance.
• Portuguese Colonies: Territories established by Portugal from the 15th to 17th centuries, pivotal for global trade and the spread of Christianity.
• Seven Years’ War: A global conflict (1756–1763) that established Britain as a leading colonial power, reshaping geopolitical landscapes.
• Spain & Portugal: Early leaders in exploration, their rivalry for trade and colonies in the Americas, Africa, and Asia set the stage for European expansion.
• Spanish Colonies: Territories governed by Spain from the late 15th century, crucial for wealth, culture, and sparking rivalries with other powers.
• Sugar Plantations: Large estates in the Caribbean and Brazil that drove colonial economies through enslaved African labor, intensifying trade rivalries.
• Treaty of Paris: Agreements, notably in 1763, that concluded conflicts like the Seven Years’ War, reshaping colonial territories and power dynamics.
• Treaty of Tordesillas: A 1494 agreement dividing new lands between Spain and Portugal, resolving exploration disputes and shaping colonial boundaries.
• Treaty of Utrecht: Signed in 1713, this treaty ended the War of Spanish Succession, redistributing territories and influencing colonial rivalries.
• War of the Spanish Succession: A 1701–1714 conflict over the Spanish throne, impacting colonial territories and European power balances.