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MYTH vs REALITY

MYTH vs REALITY. Americans have a tendency to mythologize their ancestors…. Some of these myths include: Washington cutting down the cherry tree Pilgrims introducing the first Thanksgiving All of these stories are FALSE !

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MYTH vs REALITY

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  1. MYTH vs REALITY

  2. Americans have a tendency to mythologize their ancestors… • Some of these myths include: • Washington cutting down the cherry tree • Pilgrims introducing the first Thanksgiving • All of these stories are FALSE! • Much of what you may think you know about Columbus is probably untrue.. • We don’t even know exactly what Columbus looked like! None of the paintings of him were done in his lifetime. • We don’t even know his actual name! He went by several names, including Cristoforo Colombo.

  3. MYTH • Columbus sailed across the Atlantic to prove that the earth was round. • Probably originated in a biography of Columbus written by Washington Irving in 1828. • TRUTH • Most Europeans at the time knew that the world was round based on simple observation • One can see its curve simply by looking at the horizon or the earth’s shadow on the moon!

  4. MYTH • Many think that Columbus would have died as rich and celebrated hero. • TRUTH • He was looking for a new trade route for India… and did not succeed. • He actually died in disgrace!

  5. In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. • By 1525 no Arawak was left alive… • Why were the Spanish able to conquer the Native Americans so easily despite being outnumbered? • Try to come up with three reasons.

  6. It would be unfair to blame Columbus for slavery… • Many cultures practiced slavery before Columbus’ time. • It would also be unfair to blame Columbus for the diseases brought to the Americas • Just like during the Black Death, people didn’t understand medicine and immunity. Europeans were just as mystified about the transmission of disease as the Native Americans!

  7. Other Explorers • Explorers looked for better trade routes in this newly discovered hemisphere. • Spain and Portugal were main competitors!! • Treaty of Tordesillas- In 1493, the pope drew an imaginary line to divide the globe into two spheres- half for Portugal and half for Spain.

  8. Results of Exploration in the New World • Conquistador = Spanish for ‘conqueror’ • Famous Spanish Conquistadors: • Hernando Cortez defeated the Aztec Empire (Mexico). • Francisco Pizzaro defeated the Inca Empire (Ecuador and Chile) • Soldiers traveled to the New World for GOD, GOLD, and GLORY.

  9. Encomienda System • Colonists were granted land and the labor of native population in exchange for moving to a new land to represent their country. • Native slaves were often mistreated and overworked.

  10. IMPERIALISM • Now the Europeans have found all of this new land, most of which is considered to be undeveloped… • So begins a race to control it all: • Who can build the biggest Empire?? • What might be an advantage of having more land? • More resources, more people, more control!

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