Disrupting an "Old World," to Create a "New World

1. Lecture One: Disrupting an “Old World,” to Create a “New World.” #1 The World and Water #2 European Exploration and Colonization #3 Indigenous Communities in North America

2. #1: The World- 15th Century • By 1500 • Geo-political map: trade, conflict, and disease • Spice World: Japan, China, Molucca Islands, Borneo, Sumatra, India • Gunpowder Empires: Ottoman Empire, Portuguese, Spanish, Safavid, Russia • Rodolfo Acuna: Occupied America: Spain in North America: violent disruption • 15th and 16th Centuries • Era of Western global exploration, expansion • Warfare- land and religion-played out in “New World”- Spanish verses English • Foundations for “contact and conquest”- Africa, Meso-American states

3. Water: Cross-Cultural Interactions • Commercial • New trade routs= increase in port cities • Merchant houses in Europe • Mercantilism • Network of over-seas European colonies • Supported by war • Triangle Trade= enslavement in New World • Cultural- Religion and Ideas • Biological • Food crops, animal stocks, disease (The Columbian Exchange) • European mariners • New sea routes to markets of Asia • Direct contact with sub-Saharan Africa and Asia • Gave rise to early modern history 1500-1800 (the Atlantic World) • 15th century, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch trading posts on coast of West Africa • “Liquid foundation”- empire building/ conquest of “New World”

4. #2: Motives and Support Systems for European Exploration • Motives • Economics • Religion • Adventure/Fame • Occurred • Emergence of centralized European monarchies • Sufficient wealth to finance endeavors • New technologies: maps, charts, ships, compass, knowledge of winds • Support System • Transportation networks • Silk Roads in China • Caravans in Sahara desert • Sea-lanes: Water: Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins

5. Europeans and the Columbian Exchange

6. Exploration and Colonization in the “New” World • China: Indian Ocean Basin • Portuguese: Africa’s west coast 15th century • Goals: expand Christianity/ Commercial activities • Colonization of Atlantic Islands • Indian Ocean trade • Muslim intermediaries • Portuguese ships with cannons=European imperialism • Christopher Columbus: plan rejected by Portuguese/sponsored by Spain • Spain: Violent intrusion into Americas • Conquistadors- 1519- Hernan Cortes • Encomienda System • Natives became Spanish subjects • Catholic Missionaries: “a double-edged sword” • Protestant Reformation intensified national rivalries • Decline of Indigenous population- import of enslaved Africans • Results of Spanish conquest

7. Historical Snapshot: The Explorer and the Lady Hernando de Soto and Lady Cofitachequi 1539- Chiefdom of Coftachequi No Gifts Pearls and Diplomatic Maneuverings Desoto and the Tombs of the Dead Impact of Invasion Spanish Legacy

8. #3: Indigenous Societies • Physical Environments • Three Types of Regional Cultures • Matrilineal and Patriarchy • Three Eras: • Paleo-Indian era • Archaic Era • Pre-Columbian Era

9. Indigenous Communities Encounter European Invader Christopher Columbus- “Children of Nature.” Gender Assumptions of Indigenous Women Squaws Convinced of their own superiority… 4 Consequences of Contact

11. Images of Indigenous Women Pocahontas: The Noble Indian Princess Creation of the Squaw Media and Stereotypes