EARLY AMERICAN SOCIETIES AND THE AGE OF EXPLORATION

1. EARLY AMERICAN SOCIETIES AND THE AGE OF EXPLORATION

2. Early American Societies • It is believed that between 40,000 and 12,000 years ago, hunter gatherers migrated across the Bering Strait (Beringia) and began to populate North America. • Different environments and constant migration led to a variety of complex societies

3. Early American Societies • The Olmec (app. 1200-400 BC) - apparently a thriving trading culture in the Gulf Coast of Mexico - created massive stone monuments - reasons for their disappearance are unknown

4. Early American Societies • The Zapotec (app. 1200-400 BC) - in Southwest Mexico - constructed first real urban center in the Americas: Monte Alban - built pyramids and “ball courts” - unlike the Olmec they had a hieroglyphic writing system - reasons for their disappearance are unknown

5. Early American Societies • Independently, civilizations developed in South America. • Chavin- (900 B.C.- 200 B.C.)- arose in the mountains of Peru; no evidence of political or economic organization; built pyramids and earth mounds; like the Olmec they may have been a “mother culture” • Nazca (app. 200 BC-600 AD)- southern coast of Peru (very dry-only 20 minutes of rain per year); developed irrigation systems; may have been headhunters; most famous for the “Nazca Lines” • Nazca Lines- more than 1000 drawings; only discovered in 1927; why? Because we learned to fly

14. Early American Societies • Moche- (app. AD 100-700); northern coast of Peru; built irrigation systems; had advanced art and great wealth; we do not understand Moche religious beliefs; reasons for their disappearance are unknown

15. Early American Societies • Maya- (AD 200- 900 = Classic Period); probably were influenced by the Olmec; built independent city states such as Tikal with massive pyramids, temples and palaces • Agriculture was the basis of life • Society was hierarchical: King-Nobles (priests and warriors)- merchants and skilled workers-peasants • Polytheistic religion; practiced self-mutilation and human sacrifice (not to the level of Aztecs)

16. Early American Societies • The Maya were advanced mathematically (had zero) and had a sophisticated calendar • Most advanced writing system in the Americas; wrote in a book called a codex; only 3-4 survive "[O]ur knowledge of ancient Maya thought must represent only a tiny fraction of the whole picture, for of the thousands of books in which the full extent of their learning and ritual was recorded, only four have survived to modern times (as though all that posterity knew of ourselves were to be based upon three prayer books and 'Pilgrim's Progress')." (Michael D. Coe, The Maya, London: Thames and Hudson, 4th ed., 1987, p. 161.) • Civilization declined mysteriously; there are several theories as to why

18. Early American Societies • Teotihuacan- 1st major civilization of central Mexico; in the 6th century it was one of the largest cities in the world • City abruptly declined

20. Early American Societies • Toltecs- warlike civilization; ruler named Topiltizin urged the Toltec to abandon human sacrifice and follow the god Quetzalcoatl • This led to civil war and the decline of the Toltec • A legend arose that Quetzalcoatl would one day return…….. (he was believed to be a pale skinned man with a beard. Uh oh)

21. Early American Societies • Aztec- arrive in Central Mexico around 1200; originally called “Mexica” • According to legend the god Huitzilopochtli told them to found a city where an eagle was on a cactus with a snake in his mouth; this site became Tenochtitlan (1325), which is now Mexico City • Formed an empire through alliances and demanded tribute (by the early 1500s over 80000 miles of territory) • 3 levels of society- nobles, commoners, and slaves • By 1500 Tenochtitlan was larger than London or any other European capital

23. Early American Societies • Inca- created largest empire ever seen in the Americas prior to European arrival • Allowed conquered peoples to keep their customs • Master engineers, but did not have the wheel or iron tools; built a 14000 mile long network of roads • No writing system

25. European Exploration & Expansion • Renaissance ideas spilled over into fields of shipping, navigation, and exploration • Portugal, Spain, Dutch Republic, England, & France rose to economic powers via worldwide exploration, colonization, and trade

26. Motives for Exploration • Europeans long attracted to Asia • Fascinated by Marco Polo’s account of his travels along Silk Road, Far East, and adventures while living in court of Kublai Khan The Travels Kublai Khan Marco Polo

27. Motives for Exploration • European powers desired all water route to Asia due to Ottoman Empire’s control of Middle East land routes to Asia • Wealth – precious metals, spice trade • Christianity – missionaries • Fame & Adventure • “God, glory, and gold” Ottoman Empire

28. Making Exploration Possible • By 15th Century, European monarchies’ appetite for wealth and power = investment in exploration & colonization • New technology (cartographers, astrolabe, compass, caravel, weapons)

29. What Was It Like for an Explorer?

30. What Was It Like for an Explorer? • The Known • Risk of death • Preparation difficulties • Chance for fame, glory, and riches • The Unknown • Uncharted areas • Superstition • Never before seen marine and animal life • Completely alien cultures/civilizations

31. Portugal • Becomes first European power to gain stronghold in Asia via water route, eventually dominates the “Spice Trade” • (1420) Prince Henry “The Navigator” • Sponsorship of exploration, seamanship education center • Discovery of “gold” along Africa’s west coast • (1488) Bartholomeu Dias • Rounded tip of S. Africa = Cape of Good Hope • (1498) Vasco da Gama • Arrived in India & returned to Portugal with valuable haul of spices

32. Spain • Desired route to Asia going West instead of East • (1492) Christopher Columbus • From Genoa, Italy – gains financing from King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella, reached Americas in Oct., Hispaniola (Cuba), believed he was in the Indies, thus he called natives “Indians” Santa Maria

33. Line of Demarcation • Portugal & Spain agree to Treaty of Tordesillas(Tawr-duh-SEE-yuhs) that basically grants Portugal control of the East and Spain control of the West • Regardless of treaty, other European powers quickly enter the RACE!

34. Other European Explorers • Europeans called these territories the “New World,” however, civilizations comprised of millions of people existed centuries before their arrival • Europeans see opportunity for conquest, colonization & exploitation

35. Spanish Conquistadors • (1519) Hernando Cortés • Overthrows & destroys Aztec Empire giving Spain control of Mexico • (1532) Francisco Pizarro • Overthrows & destroys Inca Empire giving Spain control of large part of S. America • Queen Isabella declares all natives her subjects & allows them to be used as laborers

36. Cortes and the Aztecs • 1517-1519- Cortes is made leader of a new expedition into the Yucatan. The Aztecs have had “evil” omens for over a decade. • February 1519- Cortes defies the governor and finds two translators: Aguilar and Malinche. • April 20, 1519- Cortes meets an emissary from Montezuma. Cortes burns his boats and “resigns” from the post given him by the governor. • November 1519- Cortes reaches Tenochtitlan and meets Montezuma. • November 1519- Montezuma is arrested. • April 1520- Velasquez (the governor) sends an arrest party for Cortes. Battle ensues, and Cortes wins.

37. Cortes and the Aztecs • June 1520- Cortes had left Alvarado in charge. At some point he orders a massacre. Montezuma cannot control his people. He is killed under suspicious circumstances. The Spanish attempt to escape. • More than 600 conquistadors and several thousand of their allies are killed while attempting an escape. “NocheTriste” (The Night of Tears) • December 1520- Smallpox decimates the city. • Cortes returns. The Aztec surrender.

38. Colonization • By 1535, Spanish had created colonies throughout the Americas • Forced labor, starvation, murder, and disease all but wipe out civilizations • Mexico = population 25 million in 1519 reduced to 1 million by 1630 • Roman Catholic missionaries converted & baptized hundreds of thousands

39. Economic Impact • International trade crucial in developing a “commercial revolution” – Capitalism • European colonies produced products for export back to Europe (agricultural goods) = trade between “new” world and “old” = Columbian Exchange(after Columbus) • Other European powers establish colonies (trading posts) throughout world • Nations pursuing economic theory known as Mercantilism = whereby nation attains a “favorable balance of trade” = export more than you import

40. Slave Trade • Slavery, as an institution, not new in 15th Century • Colonial plantations, primarily sugar cane, increased demand for labor • (1518) Spanish ship carried first boatload of African slaves to the Americas • 16th Century = 275,000 • 17th Century = 1 million • 18th Century = 6 million • Slave trade had devastating effect on African societies still visible today Triangle of Trade and Middle Passage

41. The Colonies • Beringia- Bering Land Bridge; ancient peoples supposedly crossed into North America • St. Augustine- 1st European city in North America • Jamestown- 1607, 1st permanent English settlement • House of Burgesses- settlers could elect representatives; example of democratic govt. for other colonies • Southern Colonies- North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, possibly Virginia and Maryland (tobacco, rice, indigo, cotton); plantations and slavery • Middle Colonies- New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania (farming, shipping, fishing, trading); Dutch, Swedish, British colonists

42. The Colonies • New England colonies- Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire (farming, shipping); Puritans and others seeking religious freedom; life centered around towns and churches • Individual freedom, hard work, and self-reliance are hallmarks of the settlers (Puritan work ethic) • Mayflower Compact (1620)- a covenant between settlers; influential Democratic document