The Europeans Come to North America 4

gave up on their search for the NorthwestPassage and put their energy into miningthese riches. Spain became very wealthy.The Aztec and Maya civilizations ofMexico and Central America and the Incaof South America had flourished before theSpaniards arrived. But European illnessesand sophisticated weapons would destroythe civilizations.England and FranceBoth England and France began explorationlater than Spain and Portugal. Theysponsored explorations after hearingreports of gold in South America. By thistime, however, Spain and Portugal had laidclaim to South America and Central America.England and France decided to focus onfinding the Northwest Passage to Asia.They had different ways of pursuing theirinterests in North America. Their activitiesare outlined in chapters 5 and 6.Figure 4.12 Europeans expected that people in the New Worldwould look very different from themselves. The artist ofthis painting imagined people’s heads were in the middleof their chests.The NetherlandsThe Netherlands entered the race for spicesand wealth during the 1600s. The Dutchwere involved in the North American furtrade, but when Spain and Portugal left Asiato explore the Americas, the Netherlandstook their place. The Netherlands traded allover Asia, largely through the activities ofthe powerful Dutch East Indies Company.Figure. 4.11 european empires. This map shows the empires of England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Portugal aroundthe mid 17th century.The Europeans Come to North America 61