Transcript New world encounters chapter 1x

Professor Williams
United States History to 1877
NEW WORLD ENCOUNTERS
AMERICA BEFORE FIRST CONTACT
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

Objective
 Describe
the evolution and achievements of Native
American cultures from their beginnings to the eve
of Columbus’s discovery of America.
 Explain why Europeans turned to overseas
expansion and how they dealt with the many
obstacles that stood in their way.
 Describe how the meeting of American Indians,
Europeans, and Africans in the aftermath of
Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the Western
hemisphere affected and changed each.
OVERVIEW

Main Idea
 Before
interaction, Europeans, West Africans and
Native Americans lived in unique and complex
societies. With the interaction of each of these
cultures helped to established the modern culture
of the United States.
PRE-COLUMBIAN HISTORY & CONTACT

The “New World” that Europeans “discovered”
was not the unsettled wilderness full of
“savages” that the West claimed it was.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
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A World of Change
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American Origins
Change & Restlessness in the Atlantic World
The Complex World of Indian America
A World of Change in Africa
Exploiting Atlantic Opportunities
The Challenges of Mutual Discovery/Imagining a New
World
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A Meeting of Minds in America
Columbian Exchange
New Worlds In Africa & America
New World in Europe
FIRST AMERICANS ENTER THE NEW WORLD
Although DNA evidence indicates
that all Paleo-Indians were
genetically related, at least two
cultural groups moved into different
parts of North America between
70,000 and 40,000 years ago. The
Old Cordilleran group, to the west of
the Rocky Mountains, and the Clovis
group, to the east, left records of
their passing at numerous sites, the
most prominent of which are labeled
here.
- The First Americans. (2013). The History Channel website. Retrieved
12:37, September 3, 2013, from
http://www.history.comhttp://www.history.com/videos/the-firstamericans..
EUROPE AND ITS NEIGHBORS, CA. 1000
During medieval times, Viking and Islamic empires surrounded
western Europe, and their trade routes crisscrossed the region.
EARLY CONTACT-VIKINGS
According to oral history, Leif
Ericson was the first Viking
explorer to find North
America. He established a
colony in what he called
Vinland in around 1000 A.D.
In 1960, archaeologists
found evidence of a Viking
colony (probably that of Leif
Ericson) in northern
Newfoundland.
- Leif Eriksson vs. Christopher Columbus. (2013). The History Channel
website. Retrieved 12:38, September 3, 2013, from
http://www.history.comhttp://www.history.com/videos/leif-ericksonvs-christopher-columbus.
EARLY CONTACT-WHO ELSE?
There are many theories about other people
arriving in the Americas before Columbus.
Theories exist about voyages by the Welsh,
West Africans, and Chinese.
 Most of these theories have very little actual
evidence to support the theory. Until any solid
archaeological evidence is found, these
theories can remain only speculation.

THE KENNEWICK MAN
•The discovery of a human
ancestor variously referred to as
Kennewick or Richland Man has
shed light on the complexity of
human immigration to the western
hemisphere and ignited a
controversy that may affect the
future of paleoanthropology in the
United States.
•Found in Kennewick, WA, July 28,
1996. Most complete bones
found intact.
-James Chatters, Smithsonian Institution
EARLY NATIVE AMERICANS
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Built roads, designed trade networks, and
irrigation systems.
Due to the geological changes the
mammoths were killed and Indians were
forced to grow crops and hunt smaller game
such as the buffalo.
Unlike the Europeans, American Indians
lacked literacy, metal tools and scientific
knowledge.
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Agricultural centers: Chaco Canyon, New
Mexico & Cahokia, Illinois
 These Indians will die before Europeans
arrive
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The Anasazi Indians were the largest tribe in
the Northwest.
THE COMPLEX WORLD OF INDIAN AMERICAN
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Southwest-Anasazi
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Chaco Canyon
Cultures of the Desert West
The Anasazi lived in the Desert West near the Hohokam from about 100 BC to AD 1300.
Pueblos
•Like Hohokam, Anasazi had pit houses
•Also developed the pueblo
– Several stories high
– Many rooms
– Similar to apartments
•Villages also had underground rooms called kivas
•Kivas used as meeting places, for religious ceremonies
Cliff Dwellings
•Another type of Anasazi architecture, cliff dwellings
•Pueblos built in shallow caves in walls of rocky canyons
•To enter, rock staircases carved into rock or ladders
•Limited accessibility offered protection from attack
MISSISSIPPIANS
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Adenda-Hopewell a.k.a. Mound Builders (200BC to AD 500)
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Largest civilization in the Eastern part of the US
Series of semi-circular mound built around 3500 near present-day
Poverty Point-center of trade along the Mississippi & Ohio rivers
MISSISSIPPIANS
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Eastern Woodlands
 900-1500
 Maize-based agriculture
 Trade networks
 Centralized structure of
control (political and
economic)
IROQUOIS
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Natives of the Eastern US
woodlands
Powerful /specific language
Diet consisted of corn,
squash, beans, and fish
(close to Great Lakes area)
Five different nations
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Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida,
Onondaga, Seneca
Eventually formed government,
Iroquois League
Will discuss later of the
Iroquois Confederacy
Plains Indians
• Like Iroquois, Plains Indians consisted of different tribes
• Not all spoke same language, communication problematic
• Developed a form of sign language to communicate when they met
• Lived mostly on a treeless grassland
Europeans brought change
• Plains Indians originally lived along rivers and streams
• Introduction of horses by Europeans changed their lives
• Followed buffalo herds over long distances
• Buffalo center of lives, with buffalo meat as food, skins for clothing and tents,
and bones and horns for tools
SOUTH AMERICAN INDIANS
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Literate, scientific
knowledge, navigators
Mayans (Mexico City)
Aztecs (Central
America)
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Advanced calendar
system
Will be conquered by
Hernan Cortes in 1521
The Maya
Large civilization
• Olmec, Zapotec, Toltec small in comparison
• Developed around 1000 BC
• More than 40 cities of 5,000 to 100,000 each at height
Early Maya Civilization
• First lived in small villages
• Grew corn, beans, squash
• Good rainfall, rich soils
Rain forest challenges
• Slash-and burn agriculture
• Clearing forest land for crops
• Flat terraces built in hillsides to control erosion
Trade developed
• Farming did not provide all needs
• Villages traded for cotton, jade
• Trade of cacao, salt, obsidian helped villages grow to cities
The Maya
Cities and Government
• Most cities built between AD 250 and 900, the Classic Age
• Cities Tikal and Copan among the most spectacular in Mesoamerica
• Brightly painted pyramids, temples and palaces found there
City-States
• Each had own ruler and government
• No ruler ever united the cities into single empire
• Cities linked even without central government
Cities linked
• Highlands traded jade, obsidian for cotton, rubber, cacao from lowlands
• Cities also linked by warfare with each other
• Through battles kings tried to gain land, power
The Maya
•The Maya worshipped many gods and believed they influenced daily life;
•They also believed their kings communicated with the gods.
•To keep the gods happy, the Maya performed private and public rituals.
Religious Offerings
•Offering blood by piercing tongue, skin
•Human sacrifice only occasionally
•Ritual ball game, losing team having hearts sacrificed to gods
Upper Class Society
•Priests, who led religious ceremonies
•Professional warriors, who got war victims for human sacrifice
Other Classes
•Merchants, craftspeople middle class
•Lower class
– Farmers
– Slaves
– Provided food, labor for other classes
The Maya
Achievements
• Impressive buildings and architecture, including canals
• Advances in astronomy, math, writing
• Observed movements of sun, moon, planets
Calendar system
• Created based on astronomical observations
• 365-day farming, 260-day religious calendars
• More accurate than that used in Europe at same time
Number and writing systems
• Number system included new concepts, including “zero”
• Complex writing system of glyphs, or symbols, representing objects, sounds
• Carved writing in stone, also in bark-paper book called a codex
THE MAYA
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Decline of Mayan civilization, AD 900
 Factors:
Environmental damage, drought
 Warfare with others
 Kings abused power
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Civilization declined but did not
disappear as others.
Moved from forest to coastal cities
 Remained for several hundred years
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The Aztecs
•At the height of Mayan Civilization, the Aztecs began to rise to power in the north.
•Early Aztecs were a small group of unlucky farmers that created the most powerful empire in
Mesoamerica.
Rise of the Empire
•Began as separate farming tribes
•Probably subject of the Toltecs
•Legend: settle where they saw an eagle on a cactus eating a snake
•Migrated south to Valley of Mexico, 1100s
•Good farmland already taken
Lake Texcoco
•A swampy island in valley
•Site where legend says Aztecs saw eagle and snake
•Founded city of Tenochtitlán
•From here, continued rise to power
•In addition to being farmers, the Aztecs were also fierce warriors.
• They began fighting to control other towns around Lake Texcoco.
The Aztecs
Conquering Warriors
• Aztecs gained strength in 1420s with alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan
• Alliance gained control over huge region beyond Lake Texcoco
• Aztecs ruled 400 to 500 other city states, 5 million people
• Required conquered people to pay tribute
Wealth and Strength
• Tribute paid in many forms, feathers, food, pottery, blankets
• Tribute was basis of economy
• Gained wealth and strength through trade as well
• System of roads aided trade of goods like jade, cacao
• Merchants also acted as spies for Aztec emperor
The Aztecs
Tenochtitlán
• Capital city of Aztec empire
• Covered 5 square miles
• Population of about 200,000
• One of largest cities in world at time
• Site of present day Mexico City
Enchanted Vision
• Walled compound at city center
• Pyramid with two temples on top
• Other temples, government buildings, palaces, a ball court
• Political and religious heart of the empire
• First Europeans, “enchanted vision”
Floating Gardens
• Swampy island in middle of lake
• Not much land for farming
• Aztecs built floating gardens at city’s edge
• Tenochtitlán connected by canals and causeways to biggest market
• Vendors paid tax to support army
TENOCHTITLÁN
The Aztecs
The Aztec had an organized society, with the king at the top, followed by priests.
Society and Religion
•King was part of royal family, but had to be elected
•Lived in palace at Tenochtitlán
•Certain nobles served as government officials
•Just below king were priests
– Interpreted calendars
•Performed religious ceremonies
Religious Ceremonies
•Believed gods needed blood
•Sacrificed as many as 20,000 victims a year
•European perspective,
• “walls splashed and caked with blood…stank abominably”
•Slaves. prisoners used for sacrifices
•Certain warriors who captured victims also upper class
The Aztecs
Other classes
• Merchants, artisans wealthy, respected
• Merchants rich from trading
• Artisans important, made goods required for tribute
Lower class
• Most were farmers, very poor
• Did not own their own land
• Paid so much in tribute, it was difficult to survive
Chance for improvement
• Farmers could become warriors or study at special schools
• All attended school until 15
• Continuing in special schools led to work in government
Slaves
• Suffered most in Aztec society
• Most had been captured in battle, or could not pay debts
• Some worked as farmers, laborers; some sacrificed
The Aztecs
Achievements
Sciences
• Aztecs known for achievements in
art and science
• Kept written records, though not as
advanced as Mayan
• Artisans made bright feathers into
headdresses, shields, costumes
• Composed poetry, riddles, historical
accounts
• Metalworkers fashioned gold, silver,
copper into jewelry, masks
• Used astronomy to create religious
and solar calendars much like the
Maya
• Stoneworkers decorated temples
with elaborate statues
• Aztec Empire lasted less than 200
years, brought to end by European
contact, 1500s
EUROPEAN VIEWS OF INDIANS
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Generally thought Indians lacked genuine religion; seen as savages
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Thought Indians were not “using” all of their land and did not have
property claims
In the European view: No property deed, no right to land
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Viewed Indian men as savages who were mentally and spiritually weak
Often seen as abusers who mistreated Indian women
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Europeans believed the idea of freedom was alien to Indian society
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Ironically, the Europeans believed the Indians were “too free” because
they did not have laws that conformed with European society
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EXPLOITING ATLANTIC OPPORTUNITIES
Portuguese Expansion
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“New Monarchs” Movement
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Portugal, Spain, England, and France fell into this movement that stressed economic gain
through exploration over constant warfare.
The notion of “God and Country” began with this movement.
Results
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The Portuguese established trading posts along the west coast of Africa
They started colonizing the African Islands on the Atlantic coast
The establishment of sugar plantations begins the Atlantic Slave Trade.
Exploration Attempts
•Explored the West Aftrican coast in 1418 and would soon
reach the Indian Ocean in 1488
•Prince Henry the Navigator
Water Route to India
• Prince Henry’s ultimate goal—find water route around Africa to India
• Died before goal accomplished; attempts to find such a route not
abandoned
• 1488, Bartolomeu Dias became first to sail around southern tip of
Africa
da Gama
• 1497, Vasco da Gama set out for India, stopped at several African ports
• Learned Muslim merchants actively involved in trade
• Journey took more than 10 months, eventually reached Calicut in India
Lucrative Trade
• da Gama’s trip inspired another expedition to India, led by Pedro Cabral
• Sailed west; sighted, claimed land that became known as Brazil
• Portugal established trading centers; became rich, powerful European nation
ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
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Slavery in Africa
Slavery existed as a form of labor in Africa before Europeans became
interested
Warfare was common due to influence from the Islamic empires
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European Interest
Portugal was the first European nation to establish a trading empire in Africa
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They traded textiles and guns for African slaves
Roughly 1000 slaves per year were traded along the Middle Passage initially
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(The rise and fall of Mali, Ghana, and Dahomey)
Wealthy war lords would take POWs as slaves and sell them
(Route from Europe to West Africa, to North America)
By 1800, 5 ½ million adults and 11 million children were transported as
slaves
Europeans saw slavery as a great economic boon
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They did not notice the social impact that slavery had in Africa
As a result, they transplanted the ‘economic mentality’ of slavery to the rest of
Europe
SPANISH EXPANSION
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Spain, England, and France sought to duplicate
Portugal’s commerce with Asia.
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Due to the Treaty of Grenada, Ferdinand and Isabella were
ready for exploration.
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Treaty of Grenada: January 1492, the relinquishment of the
sovereignty of the Moorish Emirate of Granada to the Catholic
monarchs of Spain.
The Spanish
Italian Sailor
• Spain also eager to seek out new routes to riches of East
• 1492, Spanish rulers agreed to pay for voyage by Italian sailor Christopher
Columbus, landed in Hispaniola, then begin colonizing a year later.
• Columbus believed he could sail west from Spain, reach China
• Correct in theory, but figures he presented about earth’s size wrong
• Also had no idea the Americas lay across Atlantic
Columbus’ First Voyage
• Columbus reached island in Caribbean after about two months at sea
• Thought he had reached Asian islands known as Indies; called people living
there Indians
• 1493, returned to Spain with exotic items, including parrots, jewels, gold,
plants unknown in Europe
• Spanish believed Columbus found new route to Asia, hailed him as hero
• Never reached Asia, error not discovered until 1502 by Amerigo Vespucci
NOTABLE EXPLORERS
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Amerigo Vespucci
Sailed along the coast of South America around 1500
He received the credit for discovering the New World
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Vasco da Gama
Actually found a passage to the Indies
Sailed around the southern tip of Africa
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Essentially took Columbus’s claim
Cape of Good Hope
His claim was largely ignored because Europe was too
busy staking a claim in the New World
COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE
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American Indians, Europeans, and Africans interacted in the
aftermath of Columbus’s discovery
QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Review this lecture, this is a combination of
what I showed last week.
 Essay question: Describe the Columbian
Exchange in detail.
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