THE ATLANTIC WORLD

The “First” Americans Arrived from Asia via Bering Strait land bridge followed herds into Alaska approx. 30,000 yrs ago by 8000 bc had spread throughout North & South America

Native Americans

Myth vs Reality Myths Reality “New World” Empty wilderness Wild Savages home to 5-10 million people living in 500-600 complex societies, domesticated foods that today feed 1/3 of the world (ex: corn, potato) sophisticated & complex government, religions & economies

Latin American Civilizations Mayan 600 bc to 900 ad culturally united but politically divided (similar to Ancient Greece) developed pyramids, written language, calendar & unique agriculture

Aztec Inca 1300 - 1500 ad present day Mexico unified society w/ complex social heirarchy conquered enemies forced to pay tribute (warriors sacrificed) Inca 1400 - 1500 ad present day Chile & Peru Vast network of connecting roads allowed for military expansion extensive use of terraced farming

North American Societies Examples of sophisticated socities & civilizations in pre-Columbian America include Cahokia -“ Mound Builders” Anasai Hohokam

“Cahokia” & Mississippians Ohio & Mississippi River Valleys (800 - 1400's) diverse Agriculture supported lg population by 1250 Cohakia was lgr than London major center of trade for entire East of continent Built at least 120 mounds that served as religious & gov't centers of cities

Cahokia - “Mound Builders” (near present-day St. Louis)

“Monks Mound”

“The Great Serpent” Mound Built approx. 300 bce by Adena culture in present day Ohio 1/4 mile long - longest serpent effegy in world

“Anasazi” Cliff Palace, Mesa Verda CO

Anasazi - “ancient people” ancestors of the Pueblo tribe of CO, UT, AZ & NM developed vast trading network connecting communities across Colorado Plateau develped cliff dwellings for defense during 1300's

“Hohokam”

Hohokam - “those who have gone” 300 bc - 1450 ad in present day Arizona (contemporaries to Anasazi & Cohakai) used complex irrigation systems to support extensive desert agriculture declined, and ultimately collapsed, w/ change in climate during the 1400's canal system heavily influenced canal system of present day city of Pheonix, AZ

Christopher Columbus (1492) Italian citizen who sailed for Spain (Queen Isabella) Goal was to reach Far East  silks & spices Landed on Islands of the Caribbean Sea (Bahamas) Permanent exchange began among the people of the Americas and Europe (goods, ideas, people, slaves, diseases)

Europeans in the New World 3 Major Goals: obtain land convert natural resources into goods that can be traded bring Christianity to the Americas

Triangular Trade

The Columbian Exchange Exchange of goods and ideas become a prominent part of society To the Americas: Diseases  smallpox, plague, influenza, scarlet fever (90% dead) Foods  wheat rice, sugar cane, coffee, bananas Animals  horses, pigs, sheep, goats Other  the wheel, firearms

The Columbian Exchange To Europe: Diseases  syphilis, hepatitis Foods  corn, potatoes, yams, peanuts, pumpkins, beans, squash, tomatoes Animals  turkey, llamas Other  TOBACCO

The African Slave Trade The demand & growth of natural resources in the Americas led to the implementation of the African slave trade. Slaves from Western Africa were transported across the Atlantic, where they were sold (known as the “Middle Passage”) Slaves were also part of the Triangular Trade Tobacco, Cotton, Sugar, and Molasses were sent to Europe Manufactured goods were sent to the African coast

“The Middle Passage” The journey of slave trading ships from the west coast of Africa across the Atlantic, where they were sold Extremely tight packed loads of human cargo that stank and carried both infectious disease and death Voyage lasted at least five weeks, and sometimes as long as three months

“The Middle Passage”

European Claims in Americas - 1700