Exploration and Colonial Era 20,000 B.C. to 1450 A.D. (Background)

The Americas, West Africa and Europe During the Ice Age 22,000 years ago people used an ice bridge to cross from Asia to North America Many generations later the natives built civilizations such as the Mayan, Aztec and Inca Empire in the Americas In North America groups such as the Chumash lived in todays San Fernando Valley In West Africa Kingdoms such as the Ghana made a fortune by taxing merchants passing through Europe in the 1400 was Christian and The Renaissance advanced in the Arts, Sciences, and Sea Exploration

Spanish North America In 1492 Columbus left Spain and arrived in the Bahamas Islands but he thought that he was on some small India islands Spain forced the Natives into slavery on the plantations and thousands of natives died of disease such as the measles After Native slaves decreased in numbers Europeans began bringing slaves from West Africa The Columbian Exchange is the transfer of people and items between The Americas, Africa and Europe The Spanish conquered huge empires such as the Aztecs, Incas and other native groups which lead to Spain gaining large land

The British Colonies In 1607 England started its 1st colony in North America and called it Jamestown Indentured Servants originally worked at the colony but soon after African American slaves became the laborers Natives and colonists battled for many years for the land In 1620 The Plymouth Colony became the 2nd The English Colony and was started by the Pilgrims England had a total of 13 colonies along eastern North America

The Colonies Prosper and Question Authority In the South plantations made much wealth by using African American Slaves In the North lumber sawing, fishing and iron producing made much wealth The Enlightenment and Great Awakening inspired colonists to question England’s authority over the colonies England and France were constantly at war and they fought for land in North America during the French Indian War England won and the Treaty of Paris gave Britain much more land in North America