European Exploration and the Discovery of America Unit 1, Lesson 1

Essential Idea Contact between the “Old” and “New” Worlds led to the exchange of many things but ultimately led to conflicts.

The “New World” Where? The “New” World, which was the Americas Migration: The first people in America likely migrated over from Asia over a land bridge during the last Ice Age People Arrive in the Americas

Mesoamerica Location: Mesoamerica, which is present day Mexico and Central America Climate: The climate was warm and stable Agricultural revolution: Time period when early Americans learned to grow crops because of the good climate

Cultures of the New World Centralized because of agriculture, especially maize/corn, allowing people to stay in one place Benefits: Civilizations were able to grow into complex societies with high populations Problems: Much easier to conquer

Cultures in Mesoamerica Mayans: Developed complex architecture, mathematics, and calendars Aztecs: Built sophisticated, highly populated cities

Cultures of the New World Location: Present day United States Climate: Not as dependable as Mesoamerica Food Source: Agriculture in stable climates, animal herds in less stable areas Culture: Nomadic because these people tended to move from place to place following food sources (animals) Why follow animals? Less stable weather limited effects of agricultural revolution Benefits: Spread out and difficult to conquer (United States government will struggle with Indians for decades) Problems: Could not develop into advanced civilizations

Cultures in Present-Day Western United States Anasazi and Cahokia: These groups built complex civilizations but likely fell apart due to drought (unstable climate)

Cultures in Present-Day Eastern United States Cherokee: Lived in more stable region of United States (the Southeast) and managed to grow maize, beans, and squash

Iroquois Confederacy Iroquois Confederacy: Northeastern tribes formed this government, loosely joining their tribes together Confederacy: Union of small governments with a WEAK central government

The “Old World” Where? The “Old World,” which was the Eastern Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, Asia) Reasons to start exploring- The Catholic Crusades exposed Europeans to products in Asia such as silk and spices The “Great Silk Road” became the major trade route that connected Europe and Asia This route was dangerous, slow, and expensive to use European countries started looking for other routes, over water, to access Asia

European Exploration: Portugal Route- Went around Africa to access Asia Prince Henry the Navigator established a school dedicated to exploration Portugal developed the caravel, a boat able to travel Africa’s rough coast While exploring Africa, Portugal was exposed to African slavery and started trading for slaves

European Exploration: Spain Route- Went west across the Atlantic Ocean Spain commissioned Christopher Columbus to look for a western route On October 12, 1492, Columbus “discovered” (disputed!) the “New World” when he landed on islands in the Caribbean Sea, later called the West Indies European Exploration

The Columbian Exchange Columbian Exchange- the transfer of goods, crops, diseases, etc. between the “old” and “new” worlds after 1492 The “New World” brought: gold, silver, corn, tobacco, and other vegetables The “Old World” brought: sugar, rice, horses, cows, and DISEASE, and SLAVES Future implications: 1. Disease would wipe out Indian populations and make conquering them easier in the future 2. Slavery went on to become vital to much of the economy of the United States, and also became very controversial

Spain vs. Portugal? Issue: Spain and Portugal were exploring and claiming new lands Why an issue? Both were Catholic, and the Pope did not want two Catholic countries fighting Solution: Treaty of Tordesillas- Pope set a “line of demarcation” to divide Spain’s and Portugal’s lands Consequence: Spain was the first country to explore what is now the United States