Three Worlds Meet

Image: © Mark Cooper/CORBIS

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Who:

Where they met:

When:

Native Americans, West Africans, and Europeans

North, Central and South America

1492+

Three Worlds Meet: Introduction

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How?Explorers like Columbus brought the three continents in contact.

Three Worlds Meet: Introduction

Why?Gold, God, and Glory (later, land)

Christopher ColumbusImage: © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS

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Effects of Columbus -

Columbian Exchange

Europe, Africa, & Asia

The Americas

Coffee Beans Grapes OlivesSugar Cane TurnipsCitrusBanana Peaches Pears Honey Bees

Grains Horses CowsPigs Diseases

Squash Turkeys Peanuts Pumpkin Beans Guinea Pig Avocado Potato Corn Cocoa Bean Peppers Vanilla Tomato Pineapple Tobacco Sweet Potato

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Effects of Columbus:

•Disease (smallpox, flu, measles) killed 90% of Native Americans from 1500-1650•Population: 25 million --> 2 1/2 million

Smallpox Virus Shown by Negative Stain Image: © Mediscan/CORBIS

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Cultural Comparisons - Land

West AfricansNative Americans

Europeans

•Land owned by individuals

•Land is there to be used

•Land not owned by anyone

•Land is only altered for food gathering/ farming

•Land owned by the community

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Cultural Comparisons-Family/Society

West AfricansNative Americans

Europeans

• Family is important, but so is nationality, religion, wealth

• Family is important

• Respect for elders

• Family is important

• Respect for elders

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Cultural Comparisons-Economy:

West AfricansNative Americans

Europeans

•Local & long distance trading networks

•Trade spanned to other continents

•Goal – profit and glory

•Local & long distance trading networks

•Goal – get by; survive

•Long distance trading networks

•Goal – to get by; survive

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Thinking Slide (Don’t Write!! Just Think)

Why might it have been valuable for these cultures to understand each other better at the time?

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Thinking Slide (Don’t Write! Just Think!)

How do you think ancestors of the indigenous Americans feel about Columbus Day?