Pre-Columbian America: PDF

Who can truly be called “native” to America? Hmmmmmmmmm???.  America before Columbus... It didn’t begin with Columbus !!! Upon his arrival: Est. 54 million people inhabited North and South America New but controversial evidence suggests some migration by crude boats (DNA, Perhaps Europ...

Who can truly be called “native” to America? Hmmmmmmmmm???.  America before Columbus... It didn’t begin with Columbus !!! Upon his arrival: Est. 54 million people inhabited North and South America New but controversial evidence suggests some migration by crude boats (DNA, Perhaps European) But majority crossed land bridge over Bering Strait (Beringia) (Map) ○ HUNTERS AND GATHERS !! ○ Probably following migratory herds ○ Nomadic Asian tribes (“top to bottom) ○ Over centuries developed into countless tribes, evolved over 2,000 languages, developed diverse cultures, religions, ways of life From Hunters and Gatherers to settled civilizations? How? Aztec Corn god - Maize !!  Growth of Civilizations - South Most sophisticated civilizations developed in Central/South America: Because of their advanced agricultural practices ○ Especially the development of maize (Foundation !!) Incas - Peru Mayans - Central America Aztecs - Mexico (Est. 20 million in Mexico) ○ Elaborate cities ○ Wide-spread commerce/trade routes ○ Language, Numerical systems, accurate calendars, etc. ○ Religion - Polytheistic, Practiced human sacrifices Aztecs sacrificed on the largest scale Live sacrifices, cutting out hearts, etc. Mayans... Aztecs... Incas... Why were these structures so tall? Meanwhile, back in North America... North American Civilizations (North of Mesoamerica) What constitutes a Civilization?  Civilizations of the North... North of Mesoamerica: Less elaborate/still substantial civilizations Agricultural growth was slow and uneven (See map) ○ Reached the southwest first and molds the Pueblo culture: ○ Intricate irrigation systems (Desert !!) ○ Terraced/Multistoried buildings Anasazi – Oldest Civilization (Zuni, Hopi, Pueblo Indians) ○ Agricultural: (corn & grains) ○ Most developed were in the SW ○ Large permanent settlements- stone/adobe Chaco Valley, N. Mexico & Mesa Verde, Colorado (Ruins still present today) ○ Mysteriously disappeared about 1300 AD Prolonged drought? War? Chaco Valley, New Mexico  Civilizations of the North (cont) Mississippian Culture - Located in Mississippi River Valley (SE) Burial & temple mounds (We are still learning from them) Skilled farmers, large trading networks Cahokia (St. Louis) largest settlement in N. America (20,000 est) Would also decline as Anasazis (Drought/Deforestation?) Development of “Three-Sister Farming” Squash, beans, and corn ○ Descendants: Creek, Choctaw, and Cherokees But by time of European arrivals: Most of continent- sparse, small villages, scattered, impermanent Est population: 4 million No ownership of land (Nature was revered) Subduing of North American tribes would be relatively “easy.” Europe looks westward... The first European discoverers of America?  Vikings !! First Arrivals !! Vinland ○ Newfoundland, Canada ○ Circa 1000 A.D. “The settlement of America had its origins in the unsettlement of Europe.” ~ Mumford ~  Continental Europe Europeans unaware of Americas: Little incentive - survival !! Famine, Black Death, etc. (Loss of ⅓ of population) Important changes: ○ Significant growth in population: Reawakening of Commerce Creates demand for imported goods due to: ○ Marco Polo – Asia / Silk Road Exotic goods, exotic tales ○ Crusades - Visits to the Middle East-New tastes, smells, spices, etc New merchant class emerges Renaissance: Rebirth, Questioning the world around them !! Reformation: Offshoot of Renaissance- Begin questioning the Church (The only Church - Catholic Church) ○ New technology: Advances in navigation – Portugal !! ○ Emergence of new governments-more united/powerful Moving away from feeble feudalistic entities towards absolutism (strong monarchs!)  Hence Portugal... Portugal invents the Caravel: (Picture) ○ Agile, easier to navigate, able to sail into the wind. (Lateen triangular sails) ○ Able to sail in shallow waters, perfect for sailing around coast of Africa (MONEY!! Gold Coast, Slave-trading)) Maritime power of the 15th Century ○ They had the shipping technology !! Due largely to Prince Henry the Navigator Devotes life to exploration, begins a school. (1486) Bartolomeu Dias rounds the Cape of Good Hope (tip of Africa) (1498) Vasco da Gama sailed to India (Map) ○ Now Portugal can add the spices, etc. of Asia to its wealth !! Portugal $$$$$$$$ !! The envy of its European neighbors, especially Spain !! Why Portugal ?? Why were they the first ??