CHAPTER 1 Three Old Worlds Create a New

Native American Histories Before Conquest

20,000 years ago—Siberian hunters became first American inhabitants14,000 years ago—humans reached tip of South AmericaThese Paleo-Indians did not suffer from many communicative diseases

Routes of the First Americans

The Environmental Challenge: Food, Climate, and Culture

Native Americans enjoyed an abundant supply of meat

Some suggest they over-hunted and caused the extinction of several large speciesClimatic warming probably played a much bigger role

5000 years ago—agricultural revolutionCrops included maize, squash, and beans Shift from nomadic hunting and gathering to permanent villages or large cities

Eastern Woodland Cultures

Atlantic coast of North AmericaNative Americans lived in smaller bandsAgriculture supplemented by hunting and gatheringLikely were the first natives encountered by English settlers

Locations of Major Indian Groups and Culture Areas in the 1600s

A World Transformed

Large numbers of whites profoundly altered native culturesThe rate of change varied from place to placeNative traditions changed radically for cultural survival

Threats to Survival: Trade

Native Americans were eager for European tradeThey became dependent on, and indebted to, EuropeansCommerce also influenced warfare patterns

Threats to Survival: Disease

Contact brought population decline among American IndiansCause: lack of resistance to epidemic disease

SmallpoxMeaslesInfluenza

Rate as high as 95% in some localities.

West Africa: Ancient and Complex Societies

Diversity of sub-Saharan cultures

Islam- imported from Mediterranean area w/ goods.Strong traditional beliefs

A history of empiresDaily life centered on elder-ruled clans and matrilineal government and property distribution. 1633 Map of Atlantic

(Royalty-Free/CORBIS)

Trade Routes in

Africa

Beginnings of the Slave TradeSlave trade had existed in a small way since the 8th

Century- west Africans sold slaves to traders from the Mediterranean.Fifteenth-century Portuguese charted sea lanes from Europe to sub-Saharan AfricaNative rulers sold prisoners of war to Portuguese as slaves

Inset from Map of Africa and Americas (Library of Congress)

Growth of the Slave Trade

Dramatic rise in slave trade in 16th C. due to rising European demand for sugar.Sugar a labor intensive crop. Slaves desired to work sugar cane fields in the Americas.African kingdoms increasingly warred w/ one another in an effort to capture potential slaves to exchange for European goods.

How Many Slaves?Seventeenth century—ca. 1000 Africans per yearEighteenth century—5.5 million transported to

the AmericasBy 1860—approx. 11 millionBefore 1831, more Africans than Europeans came

to the Americas

European SocietiesLike Americans and Africans, an agrarian people who live in villages, but Europeans more hierarchicalIn economy, politics, and religion, European women have less power than other 2 areasUnlike Americas, Europe less isolated—e.g., germs for Black Death (1300s) start in Asia and arrive via trade routes

European Societies (cont.)

1400s, kings consolidate power and create stronger political units—political base for overseas explorationTechnological base—navigational and nautical advances as well as increased information from printing presses

Motives for ExplorationEconomic: direct access to Asian/African luxury goods would enrich individuals and their nationsReligious: spread Christianity and weaken Middle Eastern Muslims Two motives reinforce each other

Marco Polo leaves for the Far East (Bibliothèque Nationale de France)

Economic MotivationsHarsh economic transformation in England.Demand for wool increased dramatically.

Landowners enclosed their lands to raise sheep.This displaced many tenant farmers. Began roaming the streets and cities looking for work that didn’t exist to a sufficient degree.

Merchant class grew more successful as developed trade and industries.

Began forming charter companies- forerunners of modern corporations.

Mercantilism- assumption that nation as a whole was primary economic actor, and that the worlds wealth was finite, and had to be brought to and kept w/in the nations borders.

Creates a push for colonies- source of raw materials and markets for goods.

Lessons of Early Colonization, 1490sEuropeans learned from colonization on islands and/or in Africa to 1.

Transport crops and livestock to new areas for profit

2.

Control native peoples through conquest (islands) or manipulation (Guinea)

3.

Establish plantation agriculture; e.g., Sao Tome— first

sugar economy worked by enslaved Africans

Columbus

Schooled in Mediterranean Atlantic, he advocated sailing west to reach AsiaFinanced by Spain’s king, want to copy Portuguese overseas success1492: create first sustained contact between Americas and “Old” world—contrast with Norse voyages (1000s)

Columbus

Represents nature of early European expansion: 1.

driven by desire for immediate profit, especially gold and spices

2.

assume other American products could be a source of profit

3.

assume native peoples (“Indians”) could be controlled and exploited

From Plunder to SettlementEncomienda System rewarded Conquistadors

Large land grants Indian inhabitants provided labor or tribute

Appointed officials answered only to crownCatholic Church

Some made effort to protect Indian rightsPerformed mass conversions

By 1650, half million Spaniards in New WorldUnmarried males intermarriedMixed-blood population emerged

Colombian ExchangeBroad transfer of plants, animals, and diseasesIntroduce cattle and horses to Americas—change diet and lifestyle (e.g., Native Americans in Great Plains)Introduce corn, potatoes, etc. to Old WorldGlobal population increase w/ new food sources

Colombian ExchangeDiseases, especially smallpox, devastate American population, estimate 90% declineExplain why Europeans able to dominate and why turn to Africans for laborFrom America, Europeans receive syphilisEuropeans introduce sugar to Americas, and introduce American tobacco to Europe

N. Europeans in N. America

Initially, no colonies, instead profit from fish and fur trade w/ Native AmericansEstablish a few outpostsEcological and lifestyle changes w/ fur trade

N. Europeans in N. AmericaEnvy massive Spanish profit—result in first English attempt at a colonyRoanoke Island (1580s)—base for attacks on Spanish shipping and follow Spanish model (exploit natives for profit)Roanoke collapse—lack stable food supply and antagonize Native Americans

An Unpromising Beginning: Mystery at Roanoke

Sir Walter Raleigh established Roanoke colony in 1584

He named the region Virginia after the Virgin Queen

The colony failed and Raleigh tried again in 1587The colonists disappeared without a trace and their fate remains a mystery