Three Worlds Meet American Beginnings

1492 Europeans Europe Native Americans North America West Africans

Native Americans North America

Native American Diverse societies Shared cultural patterns: Religious beliefs - spirits Land use - source of life not possession Social organization - family/clan/task (age, gender, status) Established trade routes

"When we dig roots, we make little holes "When we dig roots, we make little holes. When we build houses, we make little holes...We shake down acorns and pinenuts. We don't chop down the trees. We only use dead wood [for fires]....But the white people plow up the ground, pull down the trees, [and ...the] the trees says , 'Don't. I am sore. Don't hurt me.'" -Wintu Woman

West African Societies

West African Societies,1490's TRADE - Sahara Highway Spread of Islam Arrival of Portuguese Plantations (Príncipe and Sāo Tomé) and slaves Beginnings of slave trade

West African Societies,1490's Thriving trade Diverse cultures Rich, well-ordered states

West African Societies,1490's Trans-Sahara trade =money and power Ghana>Mali>Songhai (Timbuktu) Niger River and Niger River Delta Benin Rainforest Kongo

West African Societies,1490's Family and government Religion Livelihood Slave Labor

European Societies Europe

European Societies, 1490's Age of Exploration Prince Henry the Navigator, Portugal European expansion

Social Order Social Hierarchy European families - nuclear family

Christianity Roman Catholic Church > Pope =spiritual and political power Suffer on Earth=rewards in heaven/ salvation Spread the Word! Missionaries Defend the Word! Crusades

Increase in trade, money to merchants Weakened nobles, strengthened monarchs Crusades Weakened Pope's power

Catholics vs. Protestants Europe is split! Catholics vs. Protestants Reformation Early 1500's Increased rivalries among countries Protestants to colonies Seeking religious freedom

Political Social Changes in Western Europe Economic Cultural

Transatlantic Encounters 1492

Columbus Aug. 3, 1492 - depart Spain (Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria) Oct. 12, 1492 - arrive Met Taino people

"It would be unnecessary to build "It would be unnecessary to build...[a fort here] because these people are so simple in deed of arms...If Your Highness order either to bring all of them to Castile or to hold them as captivos [slaves] on their own island it could easily be done, because with about fifty men you could control and subjugate them all, making them do whatever you want." -Christopher Columbus

Why explore? Gold! Land God

Spain moves in Spain thrilled, 3 more voyages funded Colonization Resistance and Conquest Death & Disease

Impact on Native Americans Methods of Colonization Plantation System Forced Labor Weapons Resistance Conquest Disease In this series of drawings from an Aztec codex, or book (c. 1575), a medicine man takes care of an Aztec with smallpox, a deadly disease brought to the Americas by Europeans.

The Slave Trade Begins Slave Labor Force African Losses

The Impact on Europeans Columbian Exchange National Rivalries Treaty of Tordesillas

A New Society is Born Columbus ordered to leave Columbus > Chain of Events Settlement Colonization Cultural transplants New Society