1. Why did Europe “conquer” the Americas, instead of the other way around?
Global Prehistory
-the “tools” you start with
The Long Separation

2. Moving Out of Africa
Single origin vs. multi-origin

3. The “Old” World & The “New” World
The “Old” World – Europe, Asia and North Africa
The “New” World – North & South America, the Caribbean
Problems with the terms?

4. The Bering Migration
Ice Age 30,000 years ago

5. Paleo-Indian evidence @ 28,000 years ago
Clovis Peoples – 9,000 B.C.E. (11,000 yrs. ago) to 11,000 B.C. E. (13,000 yrs. ago)
To tip of South America by 8,000 B.C.E.

6. Isolation People followed animal migrations Mega-fauna extinction
Australia – 40,000 years of isolation
Climate yrs ago
isolates the Americas

7. Separate Worlds “Tools” – Flora, fauna and diseases
Interlocking System
Farming and domesticated animals
Factors for domestication: Temperament and life span
Benefits of domesticated animals: direct and indirect
Farming/pack animals/fertilizer
Swidden agriculture (slash and burn)
Diseases

8. Separate Worlds The “Old” World The “New” World
Shared domesticated animals
Camels increased contact across the Sahara
Domesticated plants
Grains: wheat, oats, barley, rye, etc…
Rice – domesticated separately in China and Africa.
The “New” World
Corn, beans and squash from the Valley of Mexico
Llama, guinea pig and muscovy duck

9. Spread of Domesticated Plants
Horizontal vs. Vertical Axis

10. Diseases Most major human diseases came from animals
“Old” World – diseases shared through trade and close contact with domesticated animals
More diseases=more immunities
From disease to epidemic
Formation of urban areas:
high population density + domesticated animals = epidemics
Spread along trade routes
“New” World: lack of domesticated animals = lack of diseases = lack of immunities

11. Major American Civilizations
Large Scale Societies: Aztec, Inca, Maya
“Fragile Farmers” – Complex agricultural societies in fragile environments
Anasazi – “4 Corners” area (ancestors of modern Pueblo Peoples)
Mississippian Culture – “Mound Builders,” Cahokia (near modern St. Louis)

12. The Columbian Exchange
Contact between “Old” and “New” Worlds
Exchange of flora, fauna and diseases
Why did the “Old” World “conquer” the “New” World?
European flora, fauna and diseases “out-competed” American flora, fauna and diseases
Alfred Crosby Jr.