Transcript Europe on The Eve of Colonialism

What was life like in Europe and
the Americas before contact?
What was first contact like?
PreColumbian
Americas
Land Bridge
to the
Americas
The Maya
One of the
earliest
American
cultures
Peaked from
250 AD to
1000 AD
Aztec Empire
Originally
from Northern
Mexico,
conquered
Southern and
Central
Mexico around
1300 AD to
1400 AD
Warlike and
highly
organized
religiously and
politically
Inca
Empire
Highly sophisticated
Advanced road systems and
terrace farming (especially
potatoes)
Latin America Review
Discussion
• In your table groups describe the three
large empires that existed in PreColumbian Latin America
• In the question column of your notes, write
questions corresponding to the notes you
took
Medieval Europe
The Renaissance
• A rebirth of European
culture and learning
• Happened first in the
South, especially Italy
• Art and architecture
flourished
The Drive for Discovery
• The renaissance was a
time of exploration,
not just in art but in
science and trade as
well
• Example: Prince
Henry the Navigator
of Portugal
Asian Trade Routes
Europe Review Discussion
• In your table groups explain to each
other some of the things leading
Europe toward expansion and
exploration
• In the question column of your notes, write
questions corresponding to the notes you
took
Exploration, Contact, & Conquest
• During the age of exploration there was an
intense push to find new trade routes to Asia
• Sailors began pushing further out from
known waters and lands (most educated
people believed that Earth was spherical,
but had no idea how large it was)
Columbus
Genoese sailor
“Discovered”
the Americas
Sparked
European
colonization of
the New
World
Ferdinand
& Isabella
Consolidated
Spain’s
power and
wealth
Financed
Columbus’
expedition
Columbus Reaches the New World
First landed in
the Bahamas,
then
Hispaniola, but
thought he
landed in Asia
Made more
voyages,
established
colonies, took
gold and slaves
Columbus Review
• In your table groups describe the means and
motivation behind Columbus’ voyage
• In the question column of your notes, write
questions corresponding to the notes you
took
Summarize the Main Ideas from
the Lecture
• Draw a horizontal line across the bottom of
your note sheet
• Below the line write a summary of the ideas
in the lecture:
– What was life like in Europe and the Americas
before contact?
Christopher Columbus:
Hero and Villain
• Read the article about Columbus and first
contact, highlighting the things you find
interesting or important, then write at least a
paragraph about whether Columbus was a
more of a hero or more of a villain.
• If you finish before class ends, begin your
homework: textbook pp127-131, #3, 5, 6, 7