Discovery & Settlement of the New World

1. Discovery & Settlement of the New World Coach Crews – AP US History

2. Pre-Columbian Era • Hunter gatherers who crossed over the Bering Strait land bridge • Over 15,000 years they spread across America • population around 1500 CE: 100 million in Central and South America

3. Pre-Columbian Era • Agricultural revolution sparks innovation and establishment of permanent settlements • Religion centered around corn, the sun, and water due to their importance • Power and authority derived from control of resources

4. Pre-Columbian Era • Mound Builders – ancestors of Creeks, Choctaws, & Natchez • Mounds served as territory or religious markers • Mississippian Culture – along Miss. River & Ohio Valley • Burial mounds, farming, fishing led to substantial dwellings • Pueblo people – Anasazi • Rio Grande valley, baked mud huts, terraced gardens

5. Pre-Columbian Era • Northeastern United States • Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Mohawk • Farming led to accumulation of food surplus and population growth • “Three Sister” farming • High yield bean that grew on corn stalks w/ squash at base • Farmers were female, males were hunters, trade developed between hunters and farmers

6. Pre-Columbian Era • Iroquois League of Five Nations • Largest military unification in east • Aztecs • Capital city: Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City) • Used military and diplomacy to conquer and form alliances • Other cultures paid tributes to the Aztecs

7. Pre-Columbian Era • Incas • Empire covered 2,500 miles; present day Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina • Massive architecture: buildings and bridges • Largest empire by 1500 CE but allowed local groups to maintain sovereignty • Gave allegiance to Sapa Inca (believed to be descendent of sun-god)

8. Columbus • Europeans knew little of the Americas (hence “New World”) • Scandinavians explored Newfoundland in 1000 CE but colonies failed due to lack of nation-state support

9. Columbus • Crusades in 11th-14th centuries led to Muslim control of trade routes • Became expensive to travel to Asia • New route was sought for trade • Christopher Columbus born in Italy • Printing press led to proliferation of novels about Asia • Marco Polo wrote about his adventures to Asia • Inspired others to travel

10. What Columbus thought the world looked like……

11. Columbus • Columbus became interested; pitched ideas to multiple countries but failed to gain support. • Spain supported him to help spread Christianity • Made many demands in the event he was susccessful • “Tierra, tierra”: land is spotted Oct 12, 1492 • Called it San Salvador; thought he was in the East Indies and called natives Indians • Impressed the king and queen; funded more trips in later years

12. Cortes Defeats the Aztecs • Conquistador: conqueror • Commissioned with expanding the Spanish empire into Mexico • Formed military alliances with Aztec enemies • Held Montezuma captive and ruled empire through him • Guns, swords, etc impressed and frightened Aztecs

13. Cortes Defeats the Aztecs • 1520 CE – Aztec people fight back; rebellion is crushed by Cortes • Tenochtitlan was destroyed, Christian churches built in place of temples. • Francisco Pizzaro conquered the Incas in Peru and Spain took control of most of Central and South America

14. Europe and the Impulse for Exploration

15. Commerce • Manorial system declined and cities became the center of commerce in Europe • Printed documents replaced oral agreements; middle class became more business savvy • Mercantilism – nation’s strength is dependent on wealth • Leads to overseas exploration

16. Technology • New inventions made exploration possible • Compass, Astrolabe, Cross staff, Quadrant, Chip board, Hourglass • New ship building techniques • Caravel – fast merchant ships • Carrack – larger supply ships • Spanish galleon – used to carry gold; heavily armored

17. Ride of Nation States & Exchanges • Nations formed around people with common languages, cultures, histories, etc. • Citizens paid taxes for protection and growth of commerce • Columbian exchange – introduction of new ideas, products, diseases between Europe and New World • Led to 90% destruction of Native population.