America Before Columbus & Early European Exploration

1
America Before Columbus Early European
Exploration
2
But First North America

• The Land Bridge 40,000 years ago??? Is it
  correct?

3
Cultures of North America

• In 1492 estimates fewer than 1 million
  to more than 10 million
  inhabitants
• Most settlements semi-permanent,
  fewer than 300 people
• Agriculture corn, beans, tobacco, etc.
• Hunting for nomadic tribes

4
Larger Native Societies

• Pueblos in the Southwest

5
Larger Native Societies

• Mound builders (Cahokia 30,000!)

6
Larger Native Societies

• Woodland natives east of Mississippi River (e.g.
  League of the Iroquois)

7
Central South America

• Maya (300AD-800AD)

8
Central South America

• Aztec

9
Central South America

• Inca

10
Now Europe

• Why and how did they explore
  the Americas?

11
Improvements in Technology

• Renaissance ? artistic scientific creativity
• Use of gunpowder, compass, improved ships
  maps
• Printing press spread ideas across Europe

12
Religious Conflict

• Reconquista - Catholic victory in Spain over
  Muslims
• Ferdinand Isabella marry, unite Spain
• Reconquest finished in 1492

13
Religious Conflict

• Protestant Reformation (revolt) in Northern
  Europe splits the Church
• Protestants Catholics desire to spread their
  religion across the world

14
Developing Nation-States

• Monarchs gaining power in Spain, Portugal,
  France, England, Netherlands
• Need revenue to run their countries ? need for
  trade

15
Expanding Trade

• Increased trade w/ Africa, India, China
• Italians Ottoman Turk middle men
• Others sought new route to avoid middlemen

16
Portugal Gets It Going

• Prince Henry the Navigator
• Vasco de Gama ? India

17
Spain Takes the Lead

• Columbus gains funding from Spain to search for a
  westward passage to Asia

18
(No Transcript)
19
Dividing the World
Conflict between Catholic countries over colonies
resolved
20
Spanish Explorations Conquests

• Balboa ? Panama/Pacific Ocean
• Magellan ? Circumnavigate the world
• Cortez ? Aztecs
• Pizzaro ? Incas
• Conquistadores
• Increased Worlds gold supply by 500!
• Encomienda System (Native Americans)
• Asiento system (African Slaves)

21
Other Explorers
22
English Claims

• Henry VIII and Elizabeth I challenge Spain
• John Cabot explored Newfoundland 1497
• Sir Francis Drake Sir Walter Raleigh

England defeats the Spanish Armada
23
French Claims

• Cartier and Verrazano explore the east coast and
  St. Lawrence River, claim for France
• Busy repressing the French Huguenots
  (Calvinists/Protestants)
• Samuel de Champlain established Quebec 1608 New
  France
• Louis Jolliet, Jacques Marquette, Robert de la
  Salle add Mississippi River region

24
Dutch Claims

• Henry Hudson sought Northwest Passage, claimed
  Hudson River for the Netherlands ? New
  Amsterdam/New Netherlands
• Dutch West India (joint-stock) Company takes
  charge of New Netherlands

25
English and French Claims - 1645
Plymouth
Jamestown
26
The Columbian Exchange

• Europeans and Native Americans had developed
  differently for 1000s of years
• Contact led to an exchange of plants, foods,
  diseases (est. 90 casualty rate)
• Significant, permanent changes to the WORLD