The “New World” 1491-1607
Essential Questions: What impact did the Columbian Exchange have on both American Indian and European societies? How did Spanish, French, Dutch, and British differ in their treatment of American Indians? Causes?
Cultures of Central & South America Archeologists believe first migrants arrived 40,000 ago from Asia via Bering land bridge Advanced civilizations: Maya (AD 300-800) in Yucatan Peninsula, Aztecs in central Mexico – Tenochtitlan pop. of 200,000, Incas in Peruvian Andes Highly organized, trade routes, calendars, and agricultural systems
Cultures of North America Population of N. America (U.S. & Canada) in 1490s historians est. between 1 to 10 million or higher Mostly small societies of 300 people or less – hunting (men) & gathering, & farming (female)m, many matriarchal, and were animists Language: diverse more than 20 language families and 400 languages – largest Algonquin in Northeast Southwest: Pueblo – farming, cliff caves, brick buildings Northwest: longhouses – hunting & gathering, fishing Great Plains: nomadic, tepees, buffalo hunters – horse from Spanish in 1600s East: woodland – hunting & gathering, fishing, farming permanent settlements – fur trade. Iroquois Confederacy in Mohawk Valley of NY most powerful
Causes of European Exploration Technology improvements: gunpowder (China), sailing compass (China via Arabs), shipbuilding, mapmaking, printing press. Religion: Spreading of Catholic faith (Spain & Portugal) after conquest of Spain by 1492. Protestant Reformation (England & Holland) -spreading rival versions of Christianity Expanding trade routes to Asia & development of slave trade for labor Development of nation-states that relied on trade and the church
Early Exploration & Contact Columbus 1492 (Ferdinand & Isabella of Spain) arrived in Bahamas the “Indies” Columbus controversial legacy? Columbian Exchange: transfer of plants, animals, and germs/diseases. From America: beans, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco & syphilis. From Europeans: sugarcane, pigs, horses, wheels, iron tools, guns & variety of diseases smallpox, measles. Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 Spain & Portugal Spanish conquistadores – search for gold “requerimiento” Encomienda system: land grants & natives to Spaniards Asiento system: slave trade from W. Africa taxes supported monarch
English, French & Dutch Both England & France behind Spain occupied by European wars & internal religious conflict England: John Cabot explores Newfoundland 1497. Queen Elizabeth I in 1580s Sir Francis Drake raids Spanish ships, Sir Walter Raleigh failed colony of Roanoke in 1587. Jamestown in 1607. France: Jacques Cartier (1534-1542) explored St. Lawrence river (Canada), Samuel de Champlain “Father of New France” founds Quebec in 1608 settlements extend down Mississippi River down to Louisiana by 1682 – fur trade “coureurs de bois” Dutch: Henry Hudson in 1609 “Hudson River” establish “New Netherlands” and “New Amsterdam” trade of Dutch West India Company (joint-stock company)
Spanish Settlements in N. America Florida: St. Augustine founded 1565 oldest permanent European settlement New Mexico: Santa Fe 1610, imposing Christianity led to Pueblo Revolt led by Pope in 1680 controlled until 1693 Forced Spanish to compromise Texas: small settlements – grow in early 1700s California: San Diego 1769, San Francisco 1776, Mission system set up by 1784 Father Junipero Sera
European Treatment of Native Americans Clashing views of nature & land: animism vs. culture of capitalism Spain: rigid caste “casta” system. Bartolome de Las Casas critical of treatment led to “New Laws of 1542” end Native American slavery. Valladolid Debate: Las Casas vs. Juan Gines de Sepulveda 1550-1551 England: initial coexistence and trade in certain areas but eventual warfare & expulsion of “savages” – some “praying towns” French: coexistence – fur trade, intermarriage, alliances – Jesuit missionaries. Dutch developed trade alliances especially with the Iroquois – fur trade. Native American reaction: some tribes opened trade networks, some formed alliances with Europeans against other tribes, some resisted or migrated west away from Europeans