Early North American Cultures

First Routes to America

• Turn to page 5 in your text• Settlements were believed to have begun as

early as thirty-thousand years ago.• The Earth’s climate at the time assisted in this

with huge melting glaciers created land bridges for early inhabitants to travel upon.

• After the extinction of large land animals the populations began to turn to agriculture to survive

Aztecs

• Thanks to the agricultural revolution these Native Americans living in Mexico and central America were able to thrive.

• The Aztecs like other cultures in the area built large cities and formed government bureaucracies.

• Just before Columbus's expedition these war like people swept through the Valley of Mexico conquering their rivals.

Aztec Architecture

Eastern Woodland Culture

• Growing groups on the North East Coast.• Cultivated maize and hunted and fished.• forced to disperse during changing

climate.• There were many shared cultural traits

between the tribes but not languages. Algonquians were the tribe with the most recognizable language and most likely the first to meet settlers.

A World Transformed

• The large arrival of settlers altered Native American Culture. • Villages on the Atlantic Coast experienced the most drastic

change to their daily life.• Accountants of contact with settlers give us the idea that they

were just as curious as their counterparts. Unlike myths Native cultures were likely not to be very hostile.

• What they would desire most is peaceful trade. Especially for the technological advances they did not have.

• Natives would eventually find themselves in debt for these items and would end up hunting far more aggressively.

• Natives also believed settlers seemd odd with their facial hair.

Early Communication

• Communication was always an ordeal and occurred through sign language.

• Europeans felt they were held in high regard, as well as trying to “civilize” Native Americans

• Most Natives listened patiently but usually rejected European values.

• This included the Christian faith as well as schooling.

• Even intermarrying did not break the tribal bonds.

The Columbian Exchange

• Within a generation of initial contact with Europeans the Carib Indians(Who gave the Caribbean its name) were virtually extinct.

• The Columbian Exchange was an transformation were European conquerors exposed Natives to several fatal diseases.

• The Natives introduced them to Corn and potatoes

West Africa

The Portuguese were the first to explore the African coast.

A mixed belief system of Islam and traditional beliefsSeveral populous states had loose control of areas. Portuguese came to Africa for slaves and gold.The story of the new world is much more about the

migration of people from Africa than Europe.

The legend of the New World

As the idea of exploring the west grew sop did the legend.

Many of the myths were based in mythology

Columbus

Columbus originally offered his plan to the Portuguese who turned him down.

Instead Spain accepted his proposal envious of Portugal.

In search for Asia Columbus stumbled upon the Bahamas

Two years after Columbus's discovery Portugal and France would fight over owner ship of this area ending in the Treaty of Tordesillas.

Treaty of Tordesillas

The treaty itself divided the entire world along a line.

Anything west of that line became Portugal’s including Brazil. While the rest was left to Spain.

This did not discourage the French and English colonists.

The Conquistadores and the Aztecs

• Conquistadores were men eager for personal glory and material gain.

• After Columbus's journey their imaginations could only run wild.

• 1518 Cortez a court clerk would lead small army to verify Stories of treasure in Mexico. He would scuttle his own ships to make sure his men would not retreat.

Conquest of the Aztecs

• Cortez had clear technological superiority of the Aztecs.

• It would only help that the Aztecs had never seen horses or men in armor. They also believed Cortes and his men were sent by the Gods.

• This victory plus the Spanish success in South America temporarily made Spain the wealthiest European country.

Spain’s empire.

Spain began to flood the new world with explorers.

To the point where they claimed more land than they could control.

French Claim To Canada

• French interest in the new world grew slowly.• The original idea was the search for a short water

route to china via the north west passage.• First man to be sent was Giovanni da Verrazano.• 1534 Cartier was sent who found a promising

water way. He would travel from Gulf of the Saint Lawrence to modern day Montreal.

• Champlain would then be sent to investigate which led to the founding of Quebec.

French and Native American relations

The French came to America looking for wealth, as well as spreading Christianity to Native Americans.

In contrast to the British the French saw the Native Americans as an asset instead of an obstacle.

The English Enter the Fray.1497 Cabot Arrives in the New World becoming the first Englishmen to enter the new land mass. Shortly after Martin Luthor starts the protestant reformation. Casuing many to take sides againt the Catholic faith.Spain was the largest catholic nation. Therefore England thought it would be important to begin compete tin in the new world against the Spanish.