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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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
Columbus Primary Source Reading

14. 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
Map the Columbian Exchnage

15. 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