History, Science and Trade
Transcript of History, Science and Trade
History, Science, and Trade
Rebecca WasmundHistory 140
What is History?What is History? History is a collection of events - a
story - that are all important. Facts of history are all verifiable Difficult to prove some parts of
history due to lack of records or reliable witnesses
Historical facts can be proved by two types of sources:
Primary - someone who was a direct witness to the event
Secondary - someone who was not a direct witness, but they use other sources (primary and/or secondary) to construct their statement
Nobody can simply decide whether a factual historical event took place - must be proved
Will always be blank spots in history
History is a collection of events - a story - that are all important.
Facts of history are all verifiable Difficult to prove some parts of
history due to lack of records or reliable witnesses
Historical facts can be proved by two types of sources:
Primary - someone who was a direct witness to the event
Secondary - someone who was not a direct witness, but they use other sources (primary and/or secondary) to construct their statement
Nobody can simply decide whether a factual historical event took place - must be proved
Will always be blank spots in history
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What is History? - Viewpoint
What is History? - Viewpoint
3 sources to prove a historical event: Must have evidence from reliable witness Facts must be logically possible There must be observable causes and effects
Another important element of history is viewpoint Viewpoint means that different people can interpret the same
historical events and facts in different ways - even facts can hold different meanings for different people. This is the “why” of historical events
Viewpoint determined by many things: environment, faith, education, status, age, etc
Solitary facts mean little - facts and events in the broader context of historical periods are much more meaningful
Knowledge of history is important - knowledge builds empathy, which results in tolerance.
3 sources to prove a historical event: Must have evidence from reliable witness Facts must be logically possible There must be observable causes and effects
Another important element of history is viewpoint Viewpoint means that different people can interpret the same
historical events and facts in different ways - even facts can hold different meanings for different people. This is the “why” of historical events
Viewpoint determined by many things: environment, faith, education, status, age, etc
Solitary facts mean little - facts and events in the broader context of historical periods are much more meaningful
Knowledge of history is important - knowledge builds empathy, which results in tolerance.
The Journey of Man - Spencer Wells
The Journey of Man - Spencer Wells
Enrolled in college at age 16 - graduated in 3 years
His Genographic Project has taken him to more than 3 dozen countries
Accomplishments: Revolutionary research for
history of man Advanced understanding of Y
chromosome Greater ability to trace human
migration The Journey of Man -
international book and documentary detailing his travels and findings
Enrolled in college at age 16 - graduated in 3 years
His Genographic Project has taken him to more than 3 dozen countries
Accomplishments: Revolutionary research for
history of man Advanced understanding of Y
chromosome Greater ability to trace human
migration The Journey of Man -
international book and documentary detailing his travels and findings
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are needed to see this picture.
The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey
The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey
The “old” (less accepted) theory is the multi-regional model - says that primitive humans left Africa millions of years ago and ended up in areas of Europe, Africa, and Asia, where modern humans evolved
Wells’ work confirms newer (more accepted) theory, the Out of Africa model
Out of Africa model says that all modern humans evolved in Africa, eventually migrated to other areas beginning 60,000 years ago - beginning with Australia
Wells’ research focuses on male humans because of the presence of the Y chromosome Female history is in mitochondrial DNA, which is less useful/accurate for
research purposes Studies of the Y chromosome have concluded that all people evolved from
one common male ancestor in Africa Out of Africa model shows that humans didn’t migrate to the Americas
until approximately 15,000 years ago - much more recent than originally thought.
The “old” (less accepted) theory is the multi-regional model - says that primitive humans left Africa millions of years ago and ended up in areas of Europe, Africa, and Asia, where modern humans evolved
Wells’ work confirms newer (more accepted) theory, the Out of Africa model
Out of Africa model says that all modern humans evolved in Africa, eventually migrated to other areas beginning 60,000 years ago - beginning with Australia
Wells’ research focuses on male humans because of the presence of the Y chromosome Female history is in mitochondrial DNA, which is less useful/accurate for
research purposes Studies of the Y chromosome have concluded that all people evolved from
one common male ancestor in Africa Out of Africa model shows that humans didn’t migrate to the Americas
until approximately 15,000 years ago - much more recent than originally thought.
Catastrophe!Catastrophe! Theory from David Keys - not a
historian, but incorporates data from many sources
Discovered unusual new tree ring growth around 535 AD Likely due to extreme cold
weather and long winters for several years
Such a phenomenon could be attributed to one of three causes: Large volcanic eruption 4 km+ asteroid hitting earth 6 km+ comet
Can’t be asteroid or comet - no crater large enough to prove such a theory
Must be volcano - Krakatoa
Theory from David Keys - not a historian, but incorporates data from many sources
Discovered unusual new tree ring growth around 535 AD Likely due to extreme cold
weather and long winters for several years
Such a phenomenon could be attributed to one of three causes: Large volcanic eruption 4 km+ asteroid hitting earth 6 km+ comet
Can’t be asteroid or comet - no crater large enough to prove such a theory
Must be volcano - Krakatoa
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Catastrophe! - EffectsCatastrophe! - Effects Eruption had devastating results on climate - several accounts around
the world detailing long winters, strange, apocalyptic weather Hard winters had variety of effects:
Less food (too cold, crops failed) Devastating plague - plague virus spreads rapidly in cold weather Death of necessary livestock (notably horses)
Believed to have possibly led to the downfall of large civilizations - most notably the Roman empire
Resulted in formation of new civilizations, such as England, and formation of revolutionary new beliefs and faiths (Islam)
Changed course of history forever - can always happen again, and would undoubtedly change course of history again
Conglomeration of so many sources leads many to believe that Keys’ hypothesis “is not unreasonable”.
Eruption had devastating results on climate - several accounts around the world detailing long winters, strange, apocalyptic weather
Hard winters had variety of effects: Less food (too cold, crops failed) Devastating plague - plague virus spreads rapidly in cold weather Death of necessary livestock (notably horses)
Believed to have possibly led to the downfall of large civilizations - most notably the Roman empire
Resulted in formation of new civilizations, such as England, and formation of revolutionary new beliefs and faiths (Islam)
Changed course of history forever - can always happen again, and would undoubtedly change course of history again
Conglomeration of so many sources leads many to believe that Keys’ hypothesis “is not unreasonable”.
America Before ColumbusAmerica Before Columbus
“The Pristine Myth” - many believe that Indians left America virtually untouched Lived symbiotically with the land
These assumptions are incorrect Originally thought there were
approximately 1 million people living in the Americas when Colombus arrived
Actual number appears to be closer to 100 million people
This means that roughly 95% of the population was decimated by disease brought by visiting Europeans (no immunity)
“The Pristine Myth” - many believe that Indians left America virtually untouched Lived symbiotically with the land
These assumptions are incorrect Originally thought there were
approximately 1 million people living in the Americas when Colombus arrived
Actual number appears to be closer to 100 million people
This means that roughly 95% of the population was decimated by disease brought by visiting Europeans (no immunity)
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
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Amazonia pre 1492Amazonia pre 1492 Originally believed that the Amazon rainforest could not support a society,
and therefore thought that the rainforest was pristine pre-Columbians Disproved - archeologists found not just one town, but a network of towns
At least 19 villages in 15 square miles Villages share same design Connected by system of highways
Was a complex society - originally thought there was no such complex society possible in this area at that time Altered land to meet their needs by clearing some areas and preserving others
Area is “last poorly known archeological regions on the face of the Earth” Found bridges, man-made ponds and ditches
Evidence of complex civilization Also evident of sophisticated (for that time) knowledge of math, sciences
Originally believed that the Amazon rainforest could not support a society, and therefore thought that the rainforest was pristine pre-Columbians
Disproved - archeologists found not just one town, but a network of towns At least 19 villages in 15 square miles Villages share same design Connected by system of highways
Was a complex society - originally thought there was no such complex society possible in this area at that time Altered land to meet their needs by clearing some areas and preserving others
Area is “last poorly known archeological regions on the face of the Earth” Found bridges, man-made ponds and ditches
Evidence of complex civilization Also evident of sophisticated (for that time) knowledge of math, sciences
The World in 1492The World in 1492 Many misconceptions: knowledge
that the world is round (and not flat) did not originate with Columbus
In 1492 Europe was comprised by various small, unconnected states
Europeans ended up more advanced than other societies
This is because Western Europe was full of rivalries that resulted in the area being far more interconnected than any other region
Connections mean that new inventions and discoveries traveled through these areas rapidly
Many misconceptions: knowledge that the world is round (and not flat) did not originate with Columbus
In 1492 Europe was comprised by various small, unconnected states
Europeans ended up more advanced than other societies
This is because Western Europe was full of rivalries that resulted in the area being far more interconnected than any other region
Connections mean that new inventions and discoveries traveled through these areas rapidly
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The World & TradeThe World & Trade Trade and connections made Europe the superior nation due to their
superior connections Drugs have always been important to trade - commercially valuable,
foundation of world economy Spain cleared huge plantations and employed slaves in the Americas to
grow crops there exclusively Certain new discoveries were extremely valuable - almost laughable
today Coffee Chocolate Potatoes Tobacco
Mesoamerica (Mayans and Aztecs) participated in large-scale intraregional trade
Mesoamerican trade destroyed upon arrival of Spaniards - who sought to trade globally
Trade and connections made Europe the superior nation due to their superior connections
Drugs have always been important to trade - commercially valuable, foundation of world economy
Spain cleared huge plantations and employed slaves in the Americas to grow crops there exclusively
Certain new discoveries were extremely valuable - almost laughable today Coffee Chocolate Potatoes Tobacco
Mesoamerica (Mayans and Aztecs) participated in large-scale intraregional trade
Mesoamerican trade destroyed upon arrival of Spaniards - who sought to trade globally