European, African and Native American Cultures Collide and Meet The Great Convergence European, African and Native American Cultures Collide and Meet

Old World and New World Cultures Europeans: “The Invaders” Native Americans: “The First People” West Africans: “The Enslaved People” The coming together or meeting of these cultures is called the Great Convergence.

Selected events and conditions that led to the Great Convergence Coming of Columbus to New World in 1492 opens the door to European Exploration Europeans looking for shorter route to the Far East and cheaper access to trade goods. Europeans were searching for a better life and attempting to get ahead.

Life back in Europe Poverty Not enough Food or shelter for all Disease ridden Limited wealth Wealth tied to land ownership Survival Difficult Life a precarious possession

Encounter European Exploration brings them into contact with Native Americans. Where Indians outnumbered Europeans relationships based on trade, fairly friendly When Europeans outnumbered Indians, Indians exploited for land and labor, relations strained

Spanish and Native Americans Spanish, unlike French and English, saw Native Americans as labor force for raising crops, tending animals and mining Spanish established missions and churches to evangelize the Native population

Introduction of Atlantic Slave Trade As Native American labor force is decimated, Spain turns to African slaves for Labor Slavery was the man-power necessary to develop and settle New World. Slaves produced the products for mass consumer markets of New World products: tobacco, sugar, coffee, cocoa and later cotton.

Slavery Among the English Colonies 1st Africans arrived in Jamestown in 1619 Status unclear, may have been indentured servants Indentured servants did not come in numbers sufficient to meet labor demand Late 1600 Legislation in Virginia made slavery legal, Virginia Slave Codes

Impact African music, dance, decoration, design, and cuisine exerted a profound, ongoing influence on American culture. Diets of New World and Old revolutionized Religion: indigenous people introduced to Christianity. See Mexico which remains largely Roman Catholic. Environmentalism Racial Slavery

Impact Language Introduction of Old World animals changes the environment and way of life for many Names of many cities, counties come from Native Americans.