Early America & Exploration

Glaciers froze lowering sea levels Early america Glaciers froze lowering sea levels This created a land bridge between Asia and Alaska Hunters used Beringa into North America

Early Americans lived as big games hunters Temperatures warmed and sea levels rose Beringa was covered with water cutting off travel between Asia and Alaska Warmer weather killing off large animals and Natives had to hunt small game, fish, and collect berries

Early americans Many groups settled in North America, as well as Mexico and South America Many people settled in Mexico and became farmers Agricultural techniques spread through the Americas People began to stay in one place and create communities Others continued to be NOMADIC moving from place to place

The first great empires developed in Southern Mexico Early americans The first great empires developed in Southern Mexico The Maya and Aztec both were created sophisticated civilizations South America also had the Inca Empire that stretched for 2,500 miles All three empires were engineers, astronomers, and mathematicians

Early americans Agricultural techniques were introduced in North America by the Hohokam and Anasazi The Hohokam and Anasazi settled in the deserts of the Southwest To the east and west were the Adena, Hopewell and Mississippian tribes These three tribes were good traders and builders and are the ancestors to many Native American tribes

Early americans Native Americans varied from region to region Kashaya Pomo lived in the marshlands of central California The Yurok and Hupa lived in Northern California The Nootka, Haida, and Kwakiutl lived between Alaska and California The Pueblo and Pima lived in the dry Southwest The Iroquois lived in the Northeast United States

Early americans This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Early americans This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

Early americans This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Early americans This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Early American questions What were the effects of agriculture on the hunting and gathering people of the Americas? In what ways did early Native American societies leave their mark upon the landscape?

Columbus was a seeker of fame and fortune Spanish exploration Beginning with the voyage of Columbus Spain built a vast colonial empire in the Americas Columbus set out to find a route to Asia that was faster then any other route Columbus was a seeker of fame and fortune Columbus set sail in October 1492 and sailed for two months before landing in the Caribbean

Spanish exploration Columbus named the people he encountered Taino meaning “noble ones” later known as los indios Columbus explored a total of four island: San Salvador, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Hispaniola The Spanish king and queen were so thrilled about the discovery they financed 3 more trips Spain developed a plan to colonize the land that Columbus had discovered

Spanish exploration Spain would use local labor to work on plantations and use modern weapons to dominate the natives Mumps, measles, chickenpox, smallpox, and typhus were given to the natives With the death of so many natives a labor force was brought from Africa to work plantations In the 1500’ s African cultures lost young and able body members By the end of the 1800’s Africa had lost over 12 million people to slavery

Spanish exploration Columbus’ discovery caused many Europeans to leave Europe by the 1000’s This migration caused rival nations to begin to look at ways to discover new lands This migration also caused rival nations to begin to ambush ships Because of conflicts between European nations the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed by Spain and Portugal

Spanish exploration This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

Spanish exploration After Columbus’ voyages Spain sent conquistadors to search the new lands for silver and gold Hernando Cortes discovers Mexico and the wealthy Aztec empire Cortes and his soldiers were amazed at Tenochtitlan the capital of the Aztec empire Montezuma and the Aztec people thought that the Spanish were gods and agreed to share their gold supply Montezuma is stoned by his people and Cortes over takes Tenochtitlan

Spanish exploration Other Spanish conquistadors came to explore into regions of North and South America These Spanish explorers married natives that created a mestizo or mixed race The Spanish also created a work system called encomienda where natives were forced to farm, ranch, and mine for Spanish landlord Spanish priests demanded an end to this system and natives were replaced by enslaved Africans

Spanish exploration Spain goes through a Golden Age Spanish explorers journey into South America and North America 1532 Francisco Pizarro enters into the Inca empire and conquers the natives 1513 Ponce de Leon explores present day Florida Spanish explorers journey up from Mexico into Texas, New Mexico, and California

British exploration Beginning in the early 1600s, the English establish colonies along the eastern shore of North America John Smith is the British version of Columbus Smith got the backing of wealthy merchants to start a colony in North America John Smith makes it to North America to present day Virginia and starts the colony Jamestown named after the King of England Jamestown was a colony of only men that wanted to find riches like Spanish explorers

British exploration Smith is aided by natives who showed the colonist to farm Tobacco is introduced to North America Labor is needed so 50 acres of land is promised to anyone that can pay their own passage Many people come as indentured servants The first African slaves came to Virginia in 1619 Colonist needed more land for farming and population boom Native Americans went to war

British exploration