Unit 2 – When Cultures Collide

Incan ruins Machu Picchu Christopher Columbus French fur traders Unit 2 – When Cultures Collide Arriving at Jamestown Mayan ruins

Migration of people from Central Asia dates back 13 to 16,000 years ago. At that time, the Bering Strait was a land bridge connecting North America and Asia. It was called Beringia.

From migration, we get the word immigrant. Today, an immigrant is a person who moves from one country to a new country.

The Aztec Empire

The Aztec Civilization began in the Valley of Mexico. They settled on an island in Lake Texcoco, in 1325. It took time to develop, but lasted through the early 1500s.

The Aztec people were able to change a swampy lake into a great city, which was called Tenochtitlan. This was its capital city.

When the Spanish arrived to the New World, Moctezuma was the leader of the Aztecs. He demanded much from his people.

The Incas - People of the Sun!

Descendants of the Incans can be found today along the west coast of South America in: Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Columbia. South America Columbia Ecuador Peru Bolivia C H I L E

The Incan government was able to take census and collect taxes because of the large scale road system that they built.

Another great achievement of the Incas was a series of canals and pipes known as aqueducts. They would bring water to dry land.

Pachacuti became Incan ruler in 1438.

Eastern Europe Marco Polo’s Journey China Pacific Ocean Sahara Dessert India Arabia When Europeans heard of Marco Polo’s travels and the riches that he found, many wanted to find a quicker route to the far east. Columbus began the journeys by traveling west, not realizing that two continents and two oceans would stop him and his crew.

Balboa reaches the calm Pacific shores Henry Hudson sailing up the Hudson River, of all places Christopher Columbus The Age of Explorers 1492 – 1630 This was a time of exploration and discovery. Columbus, Hudson, Magellan, Balboa and countless other explorers left their homelands in Europe to find shorter trade routes, at first. There is evidence that Leif Erikson and other Vikings reached North America around 1000 A.D.

Although others made it to the Western Hemisphere first, Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492. He traveled across the Atlantic, hoping to find a shorter route to East Indies and Asia.

When Cortes arrived in Mexico, he found many of the local tribes were willing to assist him overtake Moctezuma.

By 1521, the Aztecs were defeated by Cortes

Conquistadors would search the New World for riches and claim the land for Spain.

Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who sailed to South America, in 1531.

By 1535, Pizarro had conquered most of the Incan empire, which included the capitol of Cuzco.

It only took 15 years for the Spanish to defeat 2 powerful empires in America. The Spanish had more powerful weapons, and they brought disease to America, which the Native Americans had never experienced.

Although the Spanish had fewer men than the Aztec, they had horses and superior weapons. They brought disease to America, which the Native Americans had never experienced. Within the first 50 years of Spanish colonization, the Native American population went from approximately 25,000,000 to 3,000,000.

Within the first 50 years after the Spanish arrived, the Native American population went from approximately 25,000,000 to 3,000,000.. . Any ideas why this happened? What do you think it lead to?

If you said the reasons for decline in population of Native Americans were: Malnutrition, overwork or European diseases, you would be right! And without the Native Americans to work the mines, and haciendas, as slaves, the Spanish began to bring African slaves to the new world.

The triangular trade route is now complete. It starts in Europe, with trade items like guns, ammunition, cloth and salt. The ships traveled to Africa exchanging their goods for slaves. On to the West Indies to exchange for the final load, rum and sugar. The ships then returned to Europe.

Canada Europe America Caribbean Africa Islands South America The world got a little closer and shared its wealth as a result of the age of exploration. It was known as the Columbian Exchange. Up to that time, Europe was without tomato, corn (maize) and cacao bean (the source of chocolate). The new world got grapes, bananas and horses to name just a few.

The Spanish were not alone in the exploration of the New World. Holland, France and England joined the exploration.

Escape Poverty Political Oppression English settlers came to America for a variety of reasons – mostly to escape problems they faced in England, and to start a new life! Indentured Servant Religious Freedom

The first permanent English settlement was Jamestown, Virginia.

French settlers were interested in fur trade.

As a result of the 1763 Treaty of Paris, Great Britain gained complete control over Canada.

Unit 2 – When Cultures Collide