A New World, Many Cultures Period 1: 1491-1607 A New World, Many Cultures

Original Discovery The original discovery, exploration and settlement of North and South America occurred at least 10,000 years before Columbus First European explorers were the vikings and Leif Erikson and arrived in the year 1,000. The first Americans evolved into hundreds of tribes, languages and cultures. The estimated number of Native peoples in North and South America range anywhere from 50-100 million people

Reasons for Colonization Religious conflicts between Catholics/Protestants Economic competition between Africa, India, China and Europe Slaves to work sugar plantations Rise of Nation-States: empires and kingdoms crumble in favor of nation-states (people who share a common culture and loyalty) Spread of Christianity

The Spanish Spain and Portugal the first European kingdoms to claim territories in the Americas Conquistadors conquered the Incas in Peru, Aztecs in Mexico and circled the globe Hernan Cortes: Conquers the Aztecs (Mexico) Francisco Pizarro: Conquers the Inca in Peru Ferdinand Magellan: Circles the world

Conquistadors Conquistadors loaded ships with gold and silver from Mexico and Peru and made Spain the richest and most powerful country in the world Spain’s success encourages other countries to head to the New World Encomienda system: King of Spain gives grants of land and natives to individual Spaniards Disease and brutality drastically reduce the Native People and the Spanish bring in slaves from West Africa under the asiento system Asiento system: Spanish pay a tax to their king for every slave they import

Spanish Settlements Florida: Permanent settlement of St. Augustine in 1596. Oldest city in America founded by Europeans New Mexico: Harsh efforts to Christianize the Pueblo leads to violence and revolt in 1680 Texas: Spanish want to cut the French off from the Mississippi River California: Missions are built, response to the Russians exploring Alaska

Spanish Treatment of Natives Many died from forced labor Spanish intermarry with natives and Africans Rigid class system is formed by pure-blooded Spaniards Bartolome de Las Casas: Dissented from the views of most Europeans toward Natives An advocate for better treatment of Natives New Laws of 1542: Ended Indian slavery and forced labor, ends the encomienda system Valladolid Debate: Argument for/against better treatment of Natives in Spain

The English England arrives in 1497 from the voyages of John Cabot and explored Newfoundland England does not follow up immediately due to internal struggles Sir Walter Raleigh founded Roanoke, the first English colony of North America “The Lost Colony” Roanoke is abandoned, unsure of what happened to the people who lived there England does not begin to colonize North America seriously until 1600

The English Treatment of Natives The English arrive more as families, marriage with Natives is far fewer Initially in the Northeast, Natives and English get along and share ideas How to grow crops, hunt, grow maize, trade furs Relationship deteriorates and English see Natives as “savages” or “primitive” Open warfare between the two sides English did not enslave Natives but rather expelled them from land or killed them

The French French want to find a passage that leads from America to Asia Slow to develop colonies like the English Settle in present day northeast Canada along the St. Lawrence French Explorers: Jacques Cartier: Explores the St. Lawrence River Samuel de Champlain: Establishes first permanent French settlement, New Quebec in 1608. Relationship with Natives: The French view Natives as potential economic and military allies Want furs and to spread Catholicism Maintained good relations with Natives (compared to British and Spanish) Had fewer people colonizing and seen as less of a threat

The Dutch The Dutch hire Henry Hudson to seek a passage from America to Asia Discovers a large river and is named after him (Hudson River) The Dutch establish themselves in present day New York (called New Amsterdam)

Colonization by 1600