Pre-Columbian America, Columbus & Magellan, Aztecs

• Pre-Columbian refers to the era in the Americas before significant European influence.
• A quipu was a method used by the Inca to keep records and communicate information.
• Quechua served as the language of the Inca civilization.
• A codex is a historical manuscript text.

Voyages of Columbus and Magellan

• Columbus's voyages initiated sustained European contact with the Americas.
• Magellan's expedition achieved the first circumnavigation of the Earth, proving its spherical shape.
• The Strait of Magellan is located at the Southern tip of South America.
• These voyages opened new sea routes and expanded European knowledge of the world, leading to increased global interaction and colonization.

Rise of the Aztecs

• Originally a poor, nomadic group, the Aztecs migrated to central Mexico and established their capital, Tenochtitlán, in 1325.
• The Aztecs formed alliances and developed a sophisticated military system, allowing them to conquer neighboring tribes.
• Through conquest and tribute, the Aztecs accumulated wealth, resources, and labor, transforming their society into a powerful empire.
• Montezuma was the Aztec ruler during the Spanish conquest.

Pyramids of Maya and Aztec Civilizations

• Mayan and Aztec pyramids were constructed as religious and ceremonial centers.
• These pyramids served as platforms for temples and were often adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures.
• Pyramids symbolized the connection between the earthly and spiritual realms.
• These structures reflect advanced knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and engineering.
• Tikal was an important Mayan city that featured pyramids.

Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs

• Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernando Cortes, possessed superior weaponry such as steel swords, firearms, and cannons.
• The Spanish formed alliances with rival tribes who resented Aztec rule, such as the Tlaxcalans.
• Diseases brought by the Spanish, like smallpox, devastated the Aztec population, weakening their ability to resist.
• Internal divisions and resentment towards Aztec rule further destabilized the empire.
• Malinztin acted as an interpreter for Cortes.

Incan Government

• The Inca Empire, under leaders like Pachacuti, implemented a highly centralized system of government.
• The government controlled resources, labor, and distribution of goods, ensuring stability and unity.
• A network of roads and communication systems facilitated efficient administration and military control.
• The Incan government promoted cultural and religious homogeneity, integrating conquered peoples into the empire.
• Atahualpa was the Incan ruler when the Spanish arrived.
• Machu Picchu was an important Incan city.
• Cuzco was the capital city of the Inca empire.

European Colonization of the Americas

• European nations sought new territories in the Americas and the Caribbean for economic gain.
• They desired resources like gold, silver, and raw materials to fuel their economies.
• Colonies provided new markets for European goods and opportunities for trade and investment.
• European powers competed for strategic locations to expand their influence and control over trade routes.

Use of African Labor

• European colonists initially attempted to use indigenous populations as a labor force.
• Disease, harsh treatment, and resistance led to a decline in the native workforce.
• Africans were forcibly brought to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade to meet the growing demand for labor.
• African slaves were seen as a more readily available and exploitable labor source.
• Olaudah Equiano was a former slave who wrote about his experiences.

Triangular Trade

• The triangular trade involved the exchange of goods and people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
• European manufactured goods were traded to Africa for slaves.
• Slaves were transported to the Americas to work on plantations.
• Raw materials from the Americas were sent to Europe to be processed into manufactured goods.

The Middle Passage

• The Middle Passage represented the forced journey of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.
• Slaves were packed into overcrowded ships under inhumane conditions, resulting in high mortality rates.
• The Middle Passage was a brutal and dehumanizing experience that marked a significant chapter in the history of slavery.

Impact of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

• Europe accumulated wealth and resources through the exploitation of slave labor and colonial resources.
• African societies suffered from population loss, social disruption, and economic exploitation due to the slave trade.
• The Americas developed economically through slave labor but experienced social and racial inequalities that persist to this day.
• Bartolome de las Casas was a Spanish priest who advocated for the rights of Native Americans.

Impact of Colonial Empires on Europe

• The establishment of colonial empires in the Americas led to an increase in Europe's wealth and power.
• The influx of resources and trade opportunities fueled economic growth and the rise of capitalism.
• European nations competed for colonial possessions, leading to conflicts and shifting alliances.
• Joint stock companies allowed investors to pool money together to fund colonies.
• Jamestown, Massachusetts, and New York were all important early colonies.
• Pilgrims and Puritans were groups of people who migrated to the Americas for religious freedom and land ownership.
• Virginia and Massachusetts are states in America.

Mercantilism

• Mercantilism is an economic theory that promotes government regulation of trade to increase national wealth and power.
• Nations aimed to achieve a favorable balance of trade by exporting more than they imported.
• Colonies were exploited for their raw materials and served as markets for the mother country's manufactured goods.
• Favorable Balance of Trade is where a country exports more goods than they import.

Columbian Exchange

• The Columbian Exchange refers to the transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and culture between the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia) and the New World (Americas).
• Positive effects included the introduction of new crops and livestock to both regions, leading to improved diets and agricultural practices.
• Negative effects included the spread of diseases that decimated indigenous populations and the exploitation of resources and labor.
• The Columbian Exchange led to significant demographic shifts and changes in global trade patterns.
• The world population changed as new foods and farming techniques became more widespread.
• Mestizo refers to a person of mixed European and indigenous ancestry.
• Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership and free markets.
• An entrepreneur is a person who organizes and operates a business.
• A colony is a territory controlled by a foreign power.
• Potosi is in South America.
• Hudson Bay is in Canada.