The Age of Exploration Objective: To understand the most important aspects of Exploration.

1. Christopher Columbus A B. “The most important event for humanity since the birth of Christ.” C. Ends isolation of North & South America from the “Old World”

II. Native Peoples A.Very Civilized: Maya, Aztecs, and Incas 1. used complex calendars & mathematics 2. elaborate political/social structures and cities 3. massive and impressive architecture

II. Native Peoples B. Conquered with ease 1. Europeans had advanced weaponry 2. Europeans had diseases that nearly wiped out Native population - esp. smallpox

II. Native Peoples C. “The Black Legend” 1. harsh treatment of Native Americans by the Spanish

III. European Dominance A.Exploration and conquest 1. Social unrest years of European domination in world politics

IV. The Columbian Exchange A. the enormous widespread exchange of plants, animals, foods, human populations (including slaves), communicable diseases, and ideas between the Eastern and Western hemispheres that occurred after 1492

V. The Atlantic Slave Trade A.Why Slavery? 1. Shortage of labor 2. Needed to work on large scale plantations % Profit

V. The Atlantic Slave Trade B. Where did they come from? 1. West Coast of Africa 2. Supplied by rulers who wanted firearms or other goods 3. Kidnapped in slave raids organized by Europeans

V. The Atlantic Slave Trade C. The Journey 1. Kidnapped 2. Marched to slave ships 3. The Middle passage

V. The Atlantic Slave Trade D. Effects of the Slave Trade years million Africans shipped to the Americas 3. Human Cost a. many died on ships b. people deprived of freedom c. descendants forced to live in servitude d. years of prejudice

V. The Atlantic Slave Trade 4. Effects on Africa a. captured strong young people b. divided people of Africa - waged war to get slaves c. Africans built economies of American colonies d. African Diaspora - e. diffusion of African Culture