Chapter 1Chapter 1

New World BeginningsNew World Beginnings

Peopling the AmericasPeopling the Americas

Many different theoriesMany different theories– Land BridgeLand Bridge– Kayaks/boats, walking etc.Kayaks/boats, walking etc.

Massive diversity by 1492 Massive diversity by 1492 (Columbian encounter)(Columbian encounter)

Agriculture (some areas)= Agriculture (some areas)= population/ civilization growthpopulation/ civilization growth nation-statesnation-states

The origins of the first Americans remain something of a mystery. According to the most plausible theory of how the Americas were populated, for some 25,000 years people crossed the Bering land bridge from Eurasia to North America. Gradually they dispersed southward down ice-free valleys, populating both the American continents.

The European WorldThe European World

Crusades opens west to goodsCrusades opens west to goods Muslim middlemen, expensiveMuslim middlemen, expensive Marco Polo- ChinaMarco Polo- China 1450 invention of the 1450 invention of the caravel caravel – –

importance?importance? New trade posts- slaves (Portuguese)New trade posts- slaves (Portuguese) New nation-state of SpainNew nation-state of Spain

Goods on the early routes passed through so many hands along the way that their ultimate source remained mysterious to Europeans.

The European WorldThe European World

Time was right for Columbus- perfect Time was right for Columbus- perfect conditionsconditions

October 12, 1492 reached Bahamas October 12, 1492 reached Bahamas (Arawaks)(Arawaks)

Lasting effects- interdependent Lasting effects- interdependent economic systemseconomic systems

InterdependenceInterdependence

EUROPE= markets, capital, technologyEUROPE= markets, capital, technology

AFRICA= slave laborAFRICA= slave labor

AMERICAS= raw materials, foodstuffAMERICAS= raw materials, foodstuff

The Columbian ExchangeThe Columbian Exchange Columbus’s discovery initiated the kind of explosion in international commerce that a later age

would call “globalization.”

When Worlds CollideWhen Worlds Collide

Foodstuffs= population explosionFoodstuffs= population explosion European crops/animalsEuropean crops/animals Sugar RevolutionSugar Revolution in Caribbean in Caribbean Europeans= disease and epidemicEuropeans= disease and epidemic

– up to 90% death rateup to 90% death rate effect? effect?

Spanish ConquistadoresSpanish Conquistadores

Treaty of Tordesillas- Treaty of Tordesillas- Spanish/Portuguese “claim”Spanish/Portuguese “claim”

““God, gold, glory” (not necessarily in God, gold, glory” (not necessarily in that order)that order)

Precious metal increase in Old World Precious metal increase in Old World (outcome on economic system)(outcome on economic system)

Encomienda SystemEncomienda System

Mexican ConquestMexican Conquest

1519 Hernando Cortes left for Mexico1519 Hernando Cortes left for Mexico Local tribe unrest (Aztec tribute Local tribe unrest (Aztec tribute

system)system) Cortes= Quetzalcoatl?Cortes= Quetzalcoatl? TenochtitlanTenochtitlan Noche triste (June 30, 1520)Noche triste (June 30, 1520) Rapid fall of Aztec empire by small Rapid fall of Aztec empire by small

group of Spaniards (why?)group of Spaniards (why?) Assimilation/syncretismAssimilation/syncretism

Artists’ Rendering of Artists’ Rendering of TenochtitlánTenochtitlánAmid tribal strife in the fourteenth century, the Aztecs built a capital on a small island in a lake in the central Valley of Mexico. From here they oversaw the most powerful empire yet to arise in Mesoamerica. Two main temples stood at the city’s sacred center, one dedicated to Tlaloc, the ancient rain god, and the other to Huitzilopochtli, the tribal god, who was believed to require human hearts for sustenance.

Spanish AmericaSpanish America

Spanish replace Aztec/Incans Spanish replace Aztec/Incans (Mexico, Peru)(Mexico, Peru) silver producing silver producing

Subjugation of native populationSubjugation of native population St. Augustine founded 1565St. Augustine founded 1565 Conversion to ChristianityConversion to Christianity Pope’s Pope’s

Revolt 1680Revolt 1680