Why did Europe “conquer” the Americas, instead of the other way around? Global Prehistory -the “tools” you start with The Long Separation

Moving Out of Africa Single origin vs. multi-origin

The “Old” World & The “New” World The “Old” World – Europe, Asia and North Africa The “New” World – North & South America, the Caribbean Problems with the terms?

The Bering Migration Ice Age 30,000 years ago

Paleo-Indian evidence @ 28,000 years ago Clovis Peoples – 9,000 B.C.E. (11,000 yrs. ago) to 11,000 B.C. E. (13,000 yrs. ago) To tip of South America by 8,000 B.C.E.

Isolation People followed animal migrations Mega-fauna extinction Australia – 40,000 years of isolation Climate change @10,000 yrs ago isolates the Americas

Separate Worlds “Tools” – Flora, fauna and diseases Interlocking System Farming and domesticated animals Factors for domestication: Temperament and life span Benefits of domesticated animals: direct and indirect Farming/pack animals/fertilizer Swidden agriculture (slash and burn) Diseases

Separate Worlds The “Old” World The “New” World Shared domesticated animals Camels increased contact across the Sahara Domesticated plants Grains: wheat, oats, barley, rye, etc… Rice – domesticated separately in China and Africa. The “New” World Corn, beans and squash from the Valley of Mexico Llama, guinea pig and muscovy duck

Spread of Domesticated Plants Horizontal vs. Vertical Axis

Diseases Most major human diseases came from animals “Old” World – diseases shared through trade and close contact with domesticated animals More diseases=more immunities From disease to epidemic Formation of urban areas: high population density + domesticated animals = epidemics Spread along trade routes “New” World: lack of domesticated animals = lack of diseases = lack of immunities

Major American Civilizations Large Scale Societies: Aztec, Inca, Maya “Fragile Farmers” – Complex agricultural societies in fragile environments Anasazi – “4 Corners” area (ancestors of modern Pueblo Peoples) Mississippian Culture – “Mound Builders,” Cahokia (near modern St. Louis)

The Columbian Exchange Contact between “Old” and “New” Worlds Exchange of flora, fauna and diseases Why did the “Old” World “conquer” the “New” World? European flora, fauna and diseases “out-competed” American flora, fauna and diseases Alfred Crosby Jr.