European Empires motives for expansion and colonization in the New World - Essay Example

? Question one: Discuss the EUROPEAN EMPIRES motives for expansion and colonization in the New World. Then describe the different colonial transplantations that occurred in Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts Bay. What were the major sources of friction between the Indians and the English in Virginia and Massachusetts bay? Introduction The European empires started to form in the early 15th and 16th century. Developments in shipping and navigation technologies, which enabled sailors to move across the wider seas with increased success, together with developments in mathematics, writing, space science and printing, which facilitated advanced knowledge to be distributed, gave Europe the motive to expand across the world. Tensions on the land or territories from the intruding Ottoman Kingdom and the need to acquire new trade mean through the famous markets in Asia – the former routes under Venetian and Ottoman control- accelerated the European motives to explore. A number of sailors attempted moving around the southern parts of African and up beyond India, while other moved across the famous Atlantic Ocean. 1a. Motives for European empires exploration and colonization Advanced technology European gained from trade contact with China, which had created gunpowder, as well as magnetic compass. In addition, from Arabia, European nations acquired the skills of inventing advanced sails. They also invented mobile rudder, which enabled them to steer bigger ships without difficulty. These technological advancements in navigation enabled Europeans to navigate in many areas. European travelers started to utilize the angle of the sun to position their location, enabling them to monitor distances, (Bartlett 34). The renaissance determination spirit accelerated exploration, and curiosity to locate all water means to the East. In addition, in Portugal, the navigator, Henry, funded the Portuguese sailors to explore the Atlantic coastal parts of Africa. He invented a modern lighter ship highly enabled for long distance exploration through the ocean, (Musiker and Reuben 45). This played a fundamental role in accelerating European expansion and maritime business with neighboring regions. Emergence of influential rulers in Europe Since 15th century, European countries aspired to expand their impact via exploration. Influential leaders had extended their control over unruly nations. These leaders created large armies and accumulated large riches through tax collection. Desire for trade and profits City states in Italy had once benefited from shipping products through the Mediterranean Sea, but roads in Asia was terminated by annexation of Constantinople by Turkey in 1453. In addition, the industrialist financial autonomy was developing and people viewed wealth in terms of money. They desired to use those resources to make wealth, (Mommsen 123). Religious enthusiasm Missionaries in European countries such as Portugal and Spain wanted to spread their Christian doctrines. Some missionaries travelled overseas to make more converts, for instance, transform heathens to Christians in their destination areas. Christian missionaries aspired to spread both the superior religion and superior culture in new territories. 1b. Different Colonial transplantations in Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts Bay The enormous variations in transplantation approaches in Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts, colonies had an immense effect on the initial development and prosperity of these regions. The heroes in these regions were London or Virginia Firms, Massachusetts firms and Lord Baltimore. Each hero experienced unique challenges, and the results are the key consequences of the decided course of action of colonial leadership, (Mommsen and Jaap 52). Virginia territory was ruled by James King 1. The company engaged on a strong colonization move with the aim of exploitation and faster resource return. Jamestown region was poorly chosen, and imperialists experienced diseases and hunger. Experts agree that Jamestown colony’s failure was due to a poor family structure and reduced number of females. Similar to the earlier South America encroachment by Spanish colonizers, the Virginia Company, conducted exploration seeking for males to start annexation. Availability of strong family structures in former Jamestown would have led to prolonged planning in the territory placement and development of agriculture. In addition, it would have given the colony a strong contact with indigenous people, which would have interrupted the acute dispute with natives, (Schreuder 234) The Virginia colony was a strategy of gaining land and resources via a brutal course. Consequently, plaque, intensive starvation and tribal clashed became a norm in the colony until mid-1700s. The Maryland territory was the Baltimore’s target. He foresaw this territory as a Catholic refuge and a real estate project. Lord Baltimore the second, his son, accomplished his father’s vision after winning a tactful royal approval in 1932. Colonization efforts aimed at influencing the minds and souls of the native population. The considerations in the selection of the site, agriculture and direct communication with bordering communities, resulted in an increasingly better results for the settlers. Settlers at the colony employed a Counterinsurgency strategy to the tribes and appropriately organized first missions while anticipating for the imperial charter, (Schreuder 63). The Massachusetts Bay exercise was a significant consequence of subordinating policies against Puritans by King Charles the first. The company was primarily a capitalist strategy by Puritan merchants, which later changed to an opportunity to escape from religious segregation rampant under King Charles rule. The company departed for New England with 17 ships and about a thousand troops, a move that led to immediate establishment of various colonies and a main colonial government on Boston. Similarly, the colony extended its initial approval and in 1644, the colonial power advanced into a bilateral administration, with a local Deputies House and upper Chamber comprising of the administrator and his assistant, (Wesseling 68). As a result of various plaques reducing the number of England natives, Massachusetts had reduced challenges with native communities. Even though, the colony suffered some challenges attributed to initial settlements, the development far outweighed the limitations and the colony flourished. Massachusetts imperialist were coordinated, designed and seemed to have gained from earlier attempts failures. This overview outlines various strategies to North American colonization. Although, each witnessed unique success, consequent history indicates how the morals, traditions and ethics of each are characterized by experiences created from earlier colonial attempts. 1c. Sources of differences between Indians and English colonists in Massachusetts Bay and Virginia When Indians shifted to London, and Massachusetts Bay, disagreements resulted between Indians and natives. This conflict is a reflection of the desire for colonies between the two regions. The motives however were moderately unique. In the two regions, the settlers’ desire for land changed into materialism and influenced the natives to join and react, (Musiker and Reuben 42). By 1600s, the Jamestown territory was almost extinct because of setters’ exposure to illnesses. John Smith’s reign was a skill and an obscenity for the colony’s survival. With his support, Jamestown’s population had flourished in the territory. Unfortunately, their success was a significant reflection of the attack by Smith to obtain food. These attacks created mistrust and detestation against Indian colonies thus, causing Indians retaliation. The natives destroyed colonist’s livestock and interrupted their movement to the colony. Consequently, the settlers had to consume what was available, for instance, they consumed dogs, human carcass and rats. Therefore, their desire to remain in the territory led to disagreement. In the Massachusetts Bay, some Indians traded their territories to the settlers while others supported the Puritan tribes by transforming to Christianity. Some natives assisted the Massachusetts imperialists to grow food crops. The settlers increasing desire for extra land consequently influenced the Indians idea to befriend them, (Mommsen and Jaap 58). The settlers became passionate for land and were practicing increased hunting leading to scarcity of wild animals. As a result, they started livestock rearing such as pigs, sheep, goats and horses. As a result of increased need for land to feed increasing number of livestock, the colonist expanded in the natives’ land leading to food insecurity. This finally resulted to colonists and natives’ war. In conclusions, therefore, the two groups fought over land because some natives were willing to give out their lands while others were adamant to sell their land. Works cited Bartlett, Robert. The Making of Europe: Conquest, Colonization, and Cultural Change, 950-1350. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1993. Print. Gibbons, Herbert A. The New Map of Africa (1900-1916): A History of European Expansion and Colonial Diplomacy. New York: The Century Co, 2006. Print. Mommsen, Wolfgang J, and Jaap . Moor. European Expansion and Law: The Encounter of European and Indigenous Law in 19th and 20th-Century Africa and Asia. Oxford: BERG, 1991. Print. Musiker, Naomi, and Reuben Musiker. South African History: A Bibliographical Guide with Special Reference to Territorial Expansion and Colonization. New York: Garland Pub, 2004. Print. Schreuder, D M. Imperialisms: Explorations in European Expansion and Empire. Sydney: History Dept. University of Sydney, 1991. Print. Wesseling, H L. Imperialism and Colonialism: Essays on the History of European Expansion. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 1997. Print. Read More