The Impacts of European Colonization on Georgia’s Native Americans SS8H1.b Evaluate the impact of European contact on Native American cultures; include Spanish missions along the barrier islands, and the explorations of Hernando DeSoto.
The Columbian Exchange The Columbian Exchange refers to the exchange of biological material between the “New World” (North & South America) and the “Old World” (Europe). The picture represents Columbus’ encounter with the New World.
What is going on in this picture? When the Europeans arrived in the Americas, they brought deadly diseases such as smallpox. The Europeans had natural immunities to the diseases; the Native Americans did not. These diseases killed a lot of innocent Native Americans.
Columbian Exchange
The Introduction of New Animals and Plants Open up your atlases to page 19 and look at the exchange of animals, plants, and diseases from the Old World (Europe, Africa, & Asia) to the New World (North and South America).
Other Impacts – Psychological Native Americans had never seen Spaniards before, especially in well- developed armor. The armor was hard to pierce, giving Europeans the advantage in a fight.
Guns & Swords (Psychological Impacts) Native Americans had never seen or heard of guns and swords before the arrival of the Europeans. The loud “bang” of the gun along with the destruction of the sword & gun combined acted as a scare tactic in conquering Native Americans.
Religious Impacts on Native Americans. Missions – Churches set up by the Spanish used to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Native Americans were no longer allowed to worship their own Gods. In many cases, Native Americans were killed if they refused to become Christians.
Spanish Missions in Georgia The Spanish built many missions along Georgia’s Barrier Islands.
Hernando De Soto Hernando was the first European to enter Georgia? His goal was to find gold. From , De Soto attempted to find gold, but was unsuccessful. He died in In doing so, he spread disease and killed many Native Americans.