IS IT STILL RELEVANT TODAY? Great Convergence

What is The Great Convergence? It’s the coming together and combining of cultures from around the world in America. It started with European exploration and the Columbian Exchange. It continues even today. Who cares, right? How could this possibly still be relevant today? For each of the following pictures, you must decide if or how they were impacted by the Great Convergence!

The Alphabet? Absolutely Un- American. Our alphabet originated in Ancient Greece and was brought here by British colonists.

FIREWORKS! A symbol of American Independence! But, they were invented by the Ancient Chinese who developed gunpowder.

The White House Architecture is classically Greek and Roman from Friezes to columns and arches! Even DEMOCRACY is not original to America! It was invented in Athens, Greece where citizens voted directly on issues.

The Rodeo! It seems as American as Apple Pie, but the rodeo was actually a contribution of the Spanish!

Pie The first pie recipes came from England, but it was the Greeks who invented crust…

The Bill of Rights The British beat us to this one too! They actually wrote their Bill of Rights in 1689…

Ethnic Diversity America is made up of people and cultures from all over the world! This is the most significant influence of the Great Convergence – Americans themselves!

Christmas Christmas may seem American, but it’s actually celebrated all over the world and has it’s origins in the Roman Empire in 529 A.D.

All these things came to America because of the Columbian Exchange… Dogs Pigs Horses Lettuce Pears Peaches Sheep

Let’s put this all together now… Write a paragraph about The Great Convergence that answers these questions:  WHO?  WHAT?  WHEN?  WHERE?  WHY?  HOW? It’s okay to make inferences! Write about what YOU know!

Here are some things that were invented in America… Cupcakes Dental floss Combine harvesters Jelly Beans Potato Chips Jeans American Football Circular Saws Ballpoint Pens