Medieval Towns — their Business and Buildings 531 the new lands should not become more and more familiar to the European nations. The coast of North America was ex- plored principally by English navigators, who for over a century pressed northward, still in the vain hope of finding a northwest passage to the Spice Islands. Cortes began the Spanish conquests in the western world by The Spanish undertaking the subjugation of the Aztec empire in Mexico in Amerka ^ '" 1 5 19. A few years later Pizarro established the Spanish power in Peru. Spain now superseded Portugal as a maritime power, and her importance in the sixteenth century is to be attributed largely to the wealth which came to her from her possessions in the New World, mainly gold and silver. By the end of the century the Spanish main — that is, the The Spanish northern coast of South America — was much frequented by ^^^^ adventurous seamen, who combined in about equal parts the occupations of merchant, slaver, and pirate. Many of these hailed from English ports, and it is to them that England owes the beginning of her commercial greatness. It is hardly necessary to say that Europeans exhibited an utter disregard for the rights of the people with whom they came in contact and often treated them with contemptuous cruelty. The exploration of the globe and the conquest by European nations of peoples beyond the sea led finally to the vast colonization of modern times, which has caused many wars but has served to spread European ideas throughout the world. This creation of a greater Europe will be discussed in the next volume of this work. QUESTIONS Section 87. Why are towns necessary to progress.^ How did the towns of the eleventh and twelfth centuries originate.? What was the nature of a town charter.? Describe the guild organization. Section 88. Describe the revival and extending of commerce in the Middle Ages. What were some of the obstacles to business? Describe the Hanseatic League.
