Close Encounters?

Three types of “Close Encounters” “1st Kind” – rumors. “2nd Kind” – sightings. “3rd Kind” – actual physical contact.

A different perspective – 1492 is the single most important year in history – 5 reasons. Two tragedies: The African slave trade Destruction of “New World Indians.

2. Brought together 5 continents – Europe, South America, North America, Africa, and Asia.

The Columbian Exchange: “New World” – sent tomatoes, potatoes, corn, beans, cocoa, and tobacco to the Old World. “Old World” – sent cattle, pigs, horses, weeds, and germs to the New World. Africa – sent slaves, rice, yams, and coffee.

3. The first multinational industries serving a vast world market 3. The first multinational industries serving a vast world market. - Sugar, chocolate, coffee, tea, and tobacco. - all psychoactive, and stimulant in one form or another.

5. The invention of the idea of progress. Utopia by Thomas More 4. Europe’s rise to global prominence. 5. The invention of the idea of progress. Utopia by Thomas More

European dominance? What society invented the printing press? What society invented the clock? What society invented gunpowder?

Which society had the largest city?

Who had the largest empire in history?

Ambitious Explorers

Zheng He

15th Century China and India account for ½ of all world trade goods. As late as 1800 China accounted for 1/3 of all world trade; India 16%.

China’s retreat into isolation. Lack of greed. Complacency. Unity.

Timbuktu Present day Mali. Richest city in the world in 1492. Major transit point. World financial center – the original World Trade Center.

King of Mali

New World Indians

Taino Arawaks Columbus lands 1492 1542 – 50 years later 8 million Arawaks. 1542 – 50 years later Less than 200

3 Questions about New World Indians Where were they from? How many were there in 1492? Why did the numbers drop?

Indian Myths The “New World” was unoccupied, virgin land 1492 Present day US 5-10 million Present day Mexico 25 million South/Central Am. 9 million 1650 – 0 Arawaks; 90% of all Mexican Indians dead.

New World Indians Were Primarily Hunters on Horseback Tenochtitlan Cahokia

Where were New World Indians from? NE Asia, 10,000-60,000 years ago. Crossed Bering Land Bridge (Beringia) Migrated in midst of the last Ice Age.

Why did the numbers drop? Disease – NOT WAR – was the main killer Migration in small bands. Extreme cold of Ice Age. No domesticated animals. The end result was “New World” Indians were biologically isolated.

Christopher Columbus Unanswered questions: Where was he born? Where is he buried? Where did he land? What did he look like?

Christopher Columbus, October 11, 1492 “As I saw that they were very friendly to us, and perceived that they could be much more easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means than by force, I presented them with some red caps, and strings of beads to wear upon the neck, and many other trifles of small value, wherewith they were much delighted, and became wonderfully attached to us”

…they seemed on the whole to me, to be a very poor people …they seemed on the whole to me, to be a very poor people. They all go completely naked, even the women, though I saw but one girl. All whom I saw were young, not above thirty years of age, well made, with fine shapes and faces; their hair short, and coarse like that of a horse's tail, combed toward the forehead, except a small portion which they suffer to hang down behind, and never cut.

…Weapons they have none, nor are acquainted with them, for I showed them swords which they grasped by the blades, and cut themselves through ignorance. They have no iron, their javelins being without it, and nothing more than sticks…It appears to me, that the people are ingenious, and would be good servants and I am of opinion that they would very readily become Christians, as they appear to have no religion. They very quickly learn such words as are spoken to them. If it please our Lord, I intend at my return to carry home six of them to your Highnesses, that they may learn our language. I saw no beasts in the island, nor any sort of animals except parrots."

Columbus, October 13, 1492 "I do not, however, see the necessity of fortifying the place, as the people here are simple in war-like matters, as your Highnesses will see by those seven which I have ordered to be taken and carried to Spain in order to learn our language and return, unless your Highnesses should choose to have them all transported to Castile, or held captive in the island. I could conquer the whole of them with fifty men, and govern them as I pleased."

Columbus Myths The first to understand the world was round. Columbus was the first to reach the “New World.”

Columbus’s intent… The Crusades and impact on exploration. Why exactly was Columbus sailing west? Spices. “Rescue Mission.”

Columbus’s Importance Idea of progress. Utopia by Sir Thomas More The Tempest by William Shakespeare Food revolution Touched off population explosion.