The Meeting of Cultures Chapter 1. Intro Bering Straight By 15 th century, estimated 50-75 million people

The Meeting of Cultures

Chapter 1

Intro

• Bering Straight

• By 15th century, estimated 50-75 million people

America before Columbus

• Civilizations of the South– Incas

• Powerful empire

• Mayans– Sophisticated culture

with written language

• Aztecs– Nomadic warrior tribe– Ruled over much of

central and southern Mexico

Tenochtitlan

Setbacks

• Incas had no written language

Civilizations of the North

Tribes north of Mexico did not develop as large or political systems as elaborate as the Incas, Mayas and Aztecs

• Great Plains Region – farming

• Eastern – Algonquin tribes

Iroquois Confederation

• Centered in upstate New York

• Tribes:– Seneca

Muskogean

• Southernmost region of the Eastern seaboard

• Tribes– Chichasaws

• fragile alliances

Tribal Cultures

• Agriculture– i. maize

– Astronomy– Mayan concept of “zero’

Fake Smile

Tribal Cultures

• Religion – closely bound to the natural world

• Difference in Mentality and Social Roles

Europe Looks Westward • 16th Century Europe

– Bubonic Plague •

– The Beginning of Capitalism

– New Governments

First Wave: The Explorers • Early Individuals

– – –

• Purpose/Incentive – – – – – –

First Wave: The Explorers Cont’d

• Christopher Columbus (1492, 1493, 1498, 1502)

First Wave: The Explorers Cont’d• Christopher Columbus (1492, 1493, 1498,

1502)– Believed world was smaller (than it is!) – – – –

• In response to Columbus’s success, Spain

Second Wave: Conquistadors • Individuals and

conquests – Cortez = Aztecs – – – – – – –

Second Wave: Conquistadors Cont’d

• Purpose/Incentives – – – – –

“The Sword and The Cross” AKA weapons

• 3 G’s= God, Glory, and Gold• Superior weaponry

– – – –

• Religion – – –

“The Sword and The Cross” AKA weapons Cont’d

• Disease

• Natives did not have immunity to these diseases

• Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond

Third Wave: Officials and Missionaries

• Officials – – –

• crops • livestock

• Missionaries • • •

EUROPE RECEIVED

COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE

AMERICAS RECEIVED

FOOD CORN, WHITE POTATOES, PUMPKINS, TOMATOES, CACAO, STRAWBERRIES,

QUININE, TOBACCO

FOODSUGAR, WHEAT, RICE, CITRUS

FRUITS, TEA, COFFEE, BANANAS, OKRA, BARLEY,

OATS, WINE GRAPES

ANIMALSTURKEYS, GUINEA PIGS,

RATTLESNAKES, BUFFALO, RACCOONS

ANIMALSHORSES, CHICKENS, PIGS,

COWS, GOATS, SHEEP, RATS, OXEN

DISEASESSYPHILIS

DISEASESSMALLPOX, MEASLES,

INFLUENZA

RELIGIONCHRISTIANITY

WEAPONS AND TOOLSGUNS AND IRON TOOLS

Colonization to Reconstruction: Early U.S. History Review

The Beginning of African Slavery in the New World

• Southern Sahara/Guinea history– – – – – – –

The Beginning of African Slavery in the New World Cont’d

• Slavery as custom in Africa– – – – –

• Demand for Slavery in Americas– – –

English Incentives for Colonization • Commercial

– rise of the merchant class

• Mercantilism• •

• Religious– Martin Luther – –

English Incentives for Colonization Cont’d

• John Calvin– –


• English Reformation

– – – – –


• English Defeats Spanish Armada–

–

• Elizabeth dies/ James I takes over

• •

Different Strategies, Different Places, Different Countries

• English in Ireland– – –

• French Strategy– – –

Different Strategies, Different Places, Different Countries Cont’d

• Dutch Strategy (aka Netherlands/Holland)– Independence from Spain/Holy Roman

Empire in 1600s

– – –


• First English Efforts– Raleigh and Gilbert– – Roanoke 1585

• located off the coast of North Carolina

• •


• Roanoke 1587 – – – – –

• Desire to colonize remained alive

•

Documents

The Meeting of Cultures Chapter 1. Intro Bering Straight By 15 th century, estimated 50-75 million people