The Atlantic WorldBefore Columbus

Focus QuestionWhen does U.S. History begin?

One View“Three Separate histories collided in

the Western Hemisphere half a millennium ago, and American history began”

--Edward Countryman, 1996

Three Worlds MeetNative AmericansWest AfricansEuropeans

Little interaction prior to 1492

Native AmericansArrive around 45,000 years ago

Traveled across the Bering Land Bridge

Cut off at end of the Ice AgeQuickly spread throughout the

hemisphere.54 million peopleSpoke 2000 languages

Early Native AmericansSome 2 to 15 million lived in the U.S. and Canada in

1500Spoke 375 languagesLived in a variety of

climates

Cultural GroupsNorth America divided into 8 major

groups

Shared PatternsTrade Links connected peoples

Permanent Settlements knownKnown trade routes existed

Religious BeliefsNatural World inhabited by spiritsRituals tied into daily routines

Shared Patterns (2)Land Usage

The land could not be ownedLand was owned by all and used by allCould not be sold

Shared Patterns (3)Society revolved about the extended family

Many nations were matrilinearHouse and property owned by womenFamilies traced through the mother

Nations often divided intobands and villages

Eastern WoodlandsSaw population increase in 1400s

“Three Sister” AgricultureMaize (Corn)BeansSquash

Enough food to support population

Eastern Woodlands (2)Highly decentralized society

Scattered villagesGender roles split

Women farmedMen hunted, fished,

and cleared the land

West AfricaSaw robust cultures in the 1400s

SonghaiControlled Sahara trade Muslim

KongoMaintained trade links with Southern AfricaConverted to Christianity

Trade Trade linked West Africa to the outside

worldBegan to trade with Portuguese

exploring the coastAfricans provided food, water, gold,

cloth and peopleEuropeans provided metal goods,

cloth, and guns

EuropeEarlier customs weakeningGrowth of scientific reasoningRise of the Nation-StateReformation saw a splintering

of Christianity

Desire for WealthLacked resources in Europe

Required to look overseasSpice trade dominated by Turks and

ItaliansWestern Europeans looked to the

Atlantic